🏃‍♀️ The Olympic economy

Cue: Tokyo Drift from Fast & Furious... Except, not so fast. After a year-long pandemic postponement, the 2020 Olympics kick off this Friday in Tokyo — and they're now called the 2021 Olympics. Some key numbers:

• 0: Number of fans attending. All spectators have been banned, after Japan declared another state of emergency amid rising Covid cases this month.
• $15.4B: Cost of the Tokyo Olympics, according to organizers. That's 22% higher than planned due to extra pandemic-related costs.
• $3B: How much Tokyo has raised from 47 domestic sponsors, a record from host nation businesses at the Games.
• -90%: How much spending tied to the Games is expected to drop with zero spectators — and that doesn't include spillover tourism spend (think: hotels).

You don't have to bring home the gold... if it's already home. For decades, hosting the Olympics has been a source of national pride. But while the Olympics are touted as an engine of economic growth and urban revitalization, the economic benefits of hosting aren't clear. Evidence points to no real change in economic activity for host countries — but very real costs.

• The Rio Olympics cost $13B, paid for with tax dollars and corporate cash. After the Games, Rio had little to show for its investment (and an abandoned pool that turned orange).
• The LA Olympics in 1984 marked the first and last time the Olympics were profitable, mostly because planners avoided building new stadiums.
• Looking forward: The International Olympics Committee (IOC) is struggling to attract bidders for future Games. Poor economics for host countries and cities have caused many potential bids to be shot down by voters.

Check the succulent receipts... Consumer prices jumped 5.4% in June from last year, accelerating at the fastest pace since 2008. A few examples: car and truck rental prices (+88%), women's dresses (+16%), and indoor plants (+5%). Fed Chairman Jerome Powell expects this inflation could be a one-time price increase as the economy rebounds. But for lower-income consumers, a spike in the price of meat, milk, or clothes can make a big difference.

The "secret" stimulus... A super-charged child tax credit. Last week, the US government started sending parents monthly checks for each child they have. Each month for the rest of 2021, eligible parents can expect $250 or $300 per kid, depending on their age. 39M households will receive payments, covering 88% of US children. Pandemic stimulus checks boosted spending at go-to chains like Walmart, Costco, TJ Maxx and Target. This monthly child "allowance" could provide a similar boost to family-favorite retailers.

Shoot your shot... Johnson & Johnson reports earnings on Wednesday, but don't expect a major boost from vax sales: unlike Moderna and Pfizer, J&J pledged to sell its vaccine "at cost" (read: no profit). Out of $22B+ in sales last quarter, Covid vaccines made up just $100M of J&J's revenue — or roughly 2%. The no-profit approach could help J&J from a PR perspective. Not helpful: last week J&J recalled several Neutrogena and Aveeno spray sunscreens over a possible cancer risk, and it's dealing with lawsuits from its baby powder scandal.

Ghosted like a Fleet... Twitter and Snap kick off social media earnings on Thursday. In February, Snap got investors excited by saying it expects 50% annual sales growth for the next several years. Meanwhile, Twitter's yearly sales growth pales in comparison to Snap and Facebook's. It's been struggling to gain users, and it just killed its Stories feature "Fleets." More broadly, social media platforms continue to face criticism from regulators and customers for failing to police hate speech and misinformation. TBD if that'll hurt the bottom line.

• Cashed: Big Banks like Chase, Goldman, and Citi brought home booming profits last quarter — but their win is really about the economy.
• Loose: Levi's sales more than doubled from last year, as the jean icon thrives on baggier fits and changed waistlines (RIP skinny jeans).
• Juicy: Korean conglomerate LG is investing $5.2B in its battery biz, but it's juicing up for more than just electric cars.

• Live: How to make time slow down – well, kind of.
• Listen: The world's most endangered sound might surprise you.
• Read: How different cultures define happiness differently.
• Uncover: The true extent of America's food monopolies, and who pays the price.

• Monday: Earnings expected from IBM
• Tuesday: Earnings expected from Netflix, Philip Morris, and Chipotle
• Wednesday: Earnings expected from Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, United Airlines, and Verizon
• Thursday: Earnings expected from Snap, Twitter, Intel, Domino’s, and Blackstone
• Friday: The Summer Olympics begin. Earnings expected from Honeywell, American Express, and Kimberly-Clark

Authors of this Snacks own shares of: Snap and Moderna

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