Economy

Economy
Main Street Merchant Index: Sales Rebound Expectations Vary With Age of Business
January 21, 2022

Businesses of all ages are struggling in different ways to stay afloat as the COVID-19 pandemic and its variants continue to rage across the U.S. and around the world, but that hasn’t stopped business owners — both new and old — from retaining their optimism...

Economy
82% of Consumers Who are Pessimistic About the Economy Cite Inflation
January 20, 2022

Consumers from different demographic groups are perceiving the economy in different ways, but their mood is generally negative, according to Reality Check: The Paycheck-To-Paycheck Report, a PYMNTS and LendingClub collaboration based on a survey of 2,366 U.S. consumers. Get the Full Story Complete the form...

Economy
Two-thirds of US Main Street Businesses are Bullish on 2022 Sales
January 19, 2022

Despite the damage, disappointment and disruption caused by the latest surge of COVID-19, Main Street business owners in the United States look forward to the year ahead and hold out hope that it will bring better luck. Get the Full Story Complete the form to...

Economy
Data From Decades Past Show That Restaurants Need Not Worry About Inflation
January 18, 2022

With rapid inflation, many consumers are growing acutely aware of rising costs. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today. By...

Economy
Target CEO: Inflation Will Take Bite out of Store, Restaurant Trips
January 16, 2022

Top executives at Target say U.S. customers plan to drive less and combine their shopping into fewer trips, Bloomberg reported Sunday (Jan. 16). Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no...

Economy
US Factory Production Drops as Auto Industry Struggles
January 14, 2022

Production at American factories saw a surprise drop at the end of 2021, helped along by a decline in motor vehicle manufacturing, which was itself caused by the continuing semiconductor shortage. Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited...

Economy
UK Economy Returns to Pre-COVID Levels
January 14, 2022

The U.K. economy surged past its pre-pandemic level for the first time in almost two years in November when it grew 0.9% in the month, in part because shoppers decided to start their holiday gift hunts earlier than they had in the past, according to...

Economy
New Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Climb to 230,000
January 13, 2022

Initial unemployment claims for the week ending Jan. 8 unexpectedly increased to 230,000, the most since the middle of November but still below pandemic averages, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday (Jan. 13). It’s the second week in...

Economy
Inflation Hits 7%, Highest Level in 40 Years
January 12, 2022

Inflation rose 7% over the last year, the highest level in 40 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report Wednesday (Jan. 12). Get the Full Story Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access...