Slowing population growth, easing inflation expectations, renewed vaccine mandate debates, Generation X unemployment woes, and a struggling hospitality industry in Connecticut are among the top business news items this morning.
National
COVID-19 brought population growth in the United States to a near standstill, according to recent data. The trend, which comes on the heels of declining fertility in the nation, is raising concerns of further labor difficulties and slower economic growth.
Inflation expectations have eased in a variety of surveys and market measures gauging how the public and bond markets think pricing trends will go. Though these figures remain elevated, they have retreated from recent highs; Federal Reserve officials maintain that current inflationary pressures will be transitory.
Business trends
With the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreading among unvaccinated populations, more businesses are weighing the possibility of vaccine mandates. Companies largely avoided such rules for visitors and people returning to in-person work, but rising case counts have prompted renewed consideration of stricter rules.
Generation X might be facing the biggest unemployment challenge in the United States, according to a recent report from the nonprofit organization Generation. The research suggests that workers between the ages of 45 and 60 are facing issues such as skills gaps and ageism.
Connecticut
Connecticut’s hospitality industry suffered a worse impact from COVID-19 than most other states, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The state has recovered just under 72 percent of the direct hotel industry jobs lost in the pandemic, with the slump in business travel playing a significant role in the decline in demand for accommodations.