There has been no shortage of headline-grabbing business and economic stories this week.
Once again, the pandemic topped the global news agenda with India’s devastating second wave of COVID-19 infections. But there was also good news: United States President Joe Biden’s administration joined dozens of other nations in backing a plan to waive patent protections on COVID vaccines and boost the global supply of jabs, particularly for less-developed countries.
We’ve rounded up the numbers to know this week, including a sobering read on the labour market recovery in the US; an uplifting (literally) milestone from private space company SpaceX; a high-profile divorce announcement from two of the biggest names in philanthropy; and plenty of crypto-mania, including a regulatory crackdown that came too late for some Turks.
Once again, it’s been a big week in numbers – from stellar earnings reports from the likes of Tesla, Apple, Facebook and Amazon to warnings from United States companies that the prices of everyday goods will skyrocket.
US President Joe Biden wants to raise the capital gains tax to fund his American Families Plan and start closing the yawning inequality gap, while in Brazil, a small seaside town’s efforts to bolster its social safety net are making it a standout success story during the coronavirus pandemic that is currently raging through the country.
Meanwhile, we’re seeing a widening gap between the economic rebounds of different nations. The US economic recovery is accelerating on the back of mass vaccinations and beaucoup stimulus, while Europe posted negative growth in the first quarter. And spare a thought for young people in Mexico, who are pleading for work.
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It has been a dizzying week of news; some of it hopeful – including promises by the world’s top polluters to slash carbon emissions.
There have also been some tragic developments in India. This week marked a significant worsening of the spread of COVID-19 there.
But some of this week’s stories have been downright farcical. For instance, a proposed multibillion-dollar breakaway European football league has scored an embarrassing own goal.
And then, there was the Dogecoin roller coaster and a son being ordered to pay his mum $100m.
So, if you have been too busy to absorb the details of all that has been going on, here are the numbers you need to know.