The Daily

The Pandemic Economy in 7 Numbers

Nov 19, 2020

Ben Casselman, an economics and business reporter for The New York Times, delves into the pandemic's economic fallout with seven crucial statistics. He highlights a booming housing market and the rebound of the auto industry, contrasting these with sluggish recovery in the service sector. The discussion sheds light on the widening wealth gap and the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, particularly women of color. Casselman also warns of an impending financial crisis as essential government aid phases out, leaving many Americans vulnerable.

24:13

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Ben Casselman

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Episode notes

Intro

5min

Pandemic Recovery: Auto Industry and Housing Market Insights

5min

Impact of Pandemic on Consumer Spending and Service Sector Recovery

3min

Pandemic-Driven Economic Challenges

11min

Key Developments in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Air Travel Safety

4min

There are several figures that tell the story of the American economy right now.

Some are surprisingly positive — the housing market is booming — while others paint a more dire picture.

Using seven key numbers, we look at the sectors that have been affected most profoundly and consider what the path to recovery might look like.

Guest: Ben Casselman, who covers economics and business for The New York Times, walks us through the pandemic’s impact.

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For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily

Background reading:

Here is Ben’s snapshot of the key data points for understanding the impact of the pandemic on the economy.
The expiration of two critical programs at the end of this year could leave millions of Americans vulnerable and short-circuit the nation’s precarious recovery.

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