Delta rising... As the Delta variant spreads, Covid restrictions are cropping back up. The CDC recommended re-masking indoors. Half of California is back under mandatory indoor mask mandates, and NYC is requiring proof of vax status for some indoor activities. Meanwhile, Home Depot, McDonald’s, and Target are requiring many workers to mask up again. The chances of more lockdowns are low, but investors are worried Delta will slow the recovery.
Weird sitch... The US unemployment rate is 5.9% — nearly double pre-pandemic levels. But there are still more jobs than job seekers, and employers are struggling to hire. Some reasons workers aren't returning: Covid fears, child care needs, and boosted unemployment benefits. Now, companies are doing more to sweeten the pot. Target and Walmart will pay 100% of college tuition for their workers. And CVS is boosting its minimum wage over the next year to $15.