Omicron Starts to Slow U.S. Economy

[RandySF]

“Signs are mounting that the U.S. economy is losing some steam as the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus spreads rapidly through parts of the country,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The number of diners seated at restaurants nationwide was down 15% in the week ended Dec. 22 from the same period in 2019, a steeper decline than in late November… U.S. hotel occupancy was at 53.8% for the week ended Dec. 18, slightly below the previous week’s level.”




https://politicalwire.com/2021/12/23/omicron-starts-to-slow-u-s-economy/

[Phoenix61]

1. Restaurants always slow down the week before

Christmas. Everybody is shopping and/or going to Christmas parties.

[Ms. Toad]

4. They are comparing to the week before Christmas in prior years. n/t

[Phoenix61]

12. I'm prior non-Covid year. Of course the numbers are down from then. nt

[Lovie777]

2. Airlines are booming . . .

so are stores and online ..

[Auggie]

3. I cancelled Christmas dinner at a fancy restaurant

Well, the prices are fancy. The food is average. Still, I'm not risking getting the family ill for the sake of table service.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. This Is Nonsense

It's far too soon to have enough data to correlate these two conditions, let alone prove causation.
And, as someone above said, restaurants are typically slower the week of Christmas. Picks up again as NYE approaches.
This article is alarmist silliness.
Malls & airports are packed. Airfare & gifts at those malls must be free, huh?

[NickB79]

6. Lack of employees due to illness could be behind it, however

Especially in places like restaurants and retail. If half your waitstaff and cooks are out sick, your business is going to drop.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. I Suppose

But, this article is about the overall economy.
The manufacturing & warehousing sites by which I'm surrounded in these parts are all going full bore.
I think it's kind of silly to put this much emphasis on the restaurant business.
They should watch the local news in big metro areas. The scenes at airports sure don't look like economic activity is slowing.
So, two anecdotal pieces of evidence in contradiction.

[NickB79]

8. This just popped up in my newsfeed

https://www.wsj.com/articles/united-delta-cancel-some-flights-as-omicron-spreads-11640308603?mod=e2fb

United Airlines Holdings Inc. is canceling dozens of flights over the holiday weekend, as a surge of Covid-19 cases impacts crews, and Delta Air Lines Inc. also cited the variant as a factor behind a number of cancellations.

We'll see what happens over the next few weeks.

[Ron Green]

9. Who's bold enough to question economic growth,

to advocate for its reversal?

There’s lots of evidence that GDP growth is directly related to planetary death.

[Takket]

10. oh for fucks sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[roamer65]

11. Just wait 2 weeks.

Viral hell is coming.