Answer:
This quote is suggesting that debates among economists over inflation data can be compared to ancient Roman priests seeking auguries in the entrails of sacrificed animals. In ancient Rome, priests would examine the entrails of sacrificed animals to try to predict the future or determine the will of the gods.
Likewise, economists often engage in debates and discussions over inflation data to try to predict future trends in the economy or determine the best course of action. However, these debates can sometimes be seen as futile or ineffective, much like the ancient practice of examining entrails.
The speaker of the quote suggests that their colleagues may have taken offense to the comparison, possibly because it implies that the debates are not productive or meaningful. However, the speaker seems to be expressing a sense of frustration with the endless debates and the difficulties of making sense of complex economic data.