The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Wednesday related to national and global response, the work place and the spread of the virus.
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TRAVEL & LEISURE: Boeing said this week that it’s gone another month without a single airplane order, cruise ships are devoid of passengers and gasoline prices are plunging because few people are commuting to work or taking road trips. Global travel is close to a standstill.
— One of the biggest tourism companies in the world is cutting 8,000 jobs and will try to slash spending by about 30%. TUI CEO Fritz Joussen said Wednesday that a partial resumption of business could begin by June or early July in areas where testing is taking place or in regions that have been cleared by governments.
The company employs between 60,000 and 70,000 people depending on the season.
— Six Flags is launching a new guest reservation system that will allow it to manage daily attendance levels and avoid overcrowding at theme parks. Advanced reservations through the company’s website will be required to enter parks. People can get on a waiting list if the park is at capacity. Members of loyalty clubs and season ticket holders get priority.
— Scandinavian Airlines joined a growing list of carriers that will require passengers six and older to wear protective face masks. Non-essential items like magazines, pillows and blankets are no longer available, and meal service is postponed.
HOUSING: There are mixed messages on the housing front. Activity has fallen sharply with fewer people willing to show their homes, or to look at them. And 33 million people have lost jobs in the pandemic. Mortgage payments are being skipped.
— First-quarter mortgage delinquency rates jumped 59 basis points from the previous quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Delinquency Survey.
Marina Walsh, MBA’s Vice President of Industry Analysis, said it’s “reminiscent of the hurricane-related, 64-basis-point increase seen in the third quarter of 2017.”
— For the fourth consecutive week, mortgage applications rose, suggesting that the spring buying season may not be a complete loss. And applications to buy a home jumped by a healthy 11% last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Those applications are still down sharply from last year, but the gap between 2020 and 2019 appear to be shrinking. Purchase volume annually fell 19% annually. Last month, it was down 35%.
TROUBLED WATERS: Global commerce has seized up in the pandemic, skewing trade numbers and emptying ports.
— The world’s biggest shipping company expects a quarter of its typical annual volume will be lost this year.
Denmark’s A.P. Moller-Maersk said Wednesday that its outlook for the year contains “high uncertainties,” The shipper had expected growth between 1% and 3% before the outbreak.
MARKETS: Most stocks are falling on Wall Street Wednesday, but more gains for technology stocks are helping to keep the market’s losses in check.
WE’VE GOT THE MEATS: Shelter-in-place has vastly distorted consumer behavior when it comes to the pantry, the pantry and notably, the liquor cabinet.
IN: Booze, bread, meat and ice cream.
Distillers have already reported surging sales of whiskey, gin and tequila. Beer and wine sales continue to move higher. NCSolutions, which monitors packaged goods sales, said cocktail mixer sales are surging, up 29% in April.
All manner of carbs are entering our bodies. Flour sales are up 38% (baking supplies up 30%), pancake mix up 25%, frozen pasta up 23%. Frozen and fresh meat sales rose 27% and 25%, respectively. Ice cream sales are up 8% over last year, and 9% over last month.
OUT: Respiratory medicines, yogurt and chocolate.
Pharmacy shelves were cleared out at the outset of the pandemic, but panic buying appears to have waned, NCSolutions found. Sales of respiratory medicines was one of the few items to retreat, falling 11% from last month, and 7% from last year. Yogurt sales fell and, perhaps also due to a tail-off in panic buying, chocolate sales fell 2%.
