Economic Pulse

Americans in a holding pattern as more is uncovered about the Omicron variant

Despite higher expectations for the coming year, the MetLife/U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index shows small businesses continue to face challenges in the present, specifically regarding inflation and supply chain disruptions

Investment sentiment down sharply following the discovery of the omicron variant

Despite rising inflation, 1 in 5 Americans report higher-than-usual spending or borrowing

Yet Americans remain less optimistic than they were before the pandemic

A new MetLife/U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Special Report finds small businesses say they are more likely to hire new talent this year than they were in June, but there is no change in the percentage that are actively hiring

Support for lifting COVID-control restrictions now prevails across partisan lines

All indices are significantly down from last week

Optimism around a quick post-pandemic economic recovery rebounds