Today’s numbers: The COVID economy

As of June 3, 2021 (we’ll update every weekday morning).

U.S.‌ COVID cases the past week:  -29%

Americans of all ages, fully vaccinated: 41%

Arkansas, fully vaccinated: 31%

Connecticut, fully vaccinated: 51%

Japan, fully vaccinated: 3% 

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World steel production

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First-time jobless claims (state programs), week ending May 29: 385,000 (falling)

Continuing jobless claims (state and federal program), most recent week: 15,435,982 (falling)

Private payroll jobs added, May: +978,000 (rising)

– Goods-producing: +128,000

– Service-providing: +850,000

“The leading economic indicator is … the virus.” More than one analyst has put it to us this way. As we try to understand and quantify this unprecedented global economic collapse — and now the attempted restart — we’re following key metrics for COVID-19 and the broader economy.

Keep in mind: The tally of COVID-19 cases represents only the ones that are documented.

Our main trusty sources: World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Johns Hopkins University, Our World in Data (based on WHO data, Covid Tracking (scientist/journalist collaboration), GasBuddy.