Today’s Numbers: The COVID Economy

As of 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, Sept. 16, 2020 (we’ll update every weekday morning).

“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.

Welcome to Marketplace’s daily, at-a-glance update.

U.S. COVID-19 deaths reported — yesterday: 1,031 (rising)

U.S. COVID-19 new cases — yesterday: 35,445 (rising)

Daily new tests reported, U.S.: 685,033 (rising)

COVID-19 patients now in hospital: 30,327 (rising)

% Americans postponing retirement (Logica Research survey, summer 2020): 25%

Retail sales–August: +0.6% from July

Retail sales by type of store–August 2020 compared to August 2019

• Nonstore/Ecommerce: +22.4%
• Building materials & garden: +15.4%
• Sporting goods, hobby, books: +11.1%
• Grocery: +9.0%
• Bars & restaurants: -15.4%
• Clothing & accessories: -20.4%

The $88 trillion world 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.