Indian mobility numbers rising fast as lockdown eases - Google data

London (Quantum Commodity Intelligence) - The number of individual journeys made in India, the world's third-largest oil consumer, was fast returning to normal over the last two weeks, according to Google data showing mobility versus a January 2020 baseline now at a 12-week high.

Google mobility statistics showed the number of personal journeys in the week ending July 4 were 15% below a January 2020 average, the highest the weekly figure has been since April 11 when Covid-19 cases passed 200,000 per day for the first time, preempting the country's third wave which saw infection rates soar in the following weeks.

The figure for last week was up 4 percentage points from the prior week and was 11 points higher than the June average.

Restrictions in India have been eased gradually over the last weeks, starting with major urban centres where vaccination rates have been highest.

Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia saw only minor changes to mobility numbers with South Korea remaining at over 40% above January 2020.

Meanwhile, figures for Western Europe and North America were more mixed, with Germany plummeting 10 points on the week, the US also falling slightly and Canada, France and Italy all making healthy gains.

In Latin America, major consuming countries Brazil and Mexico saw figures stable to slightly higher on the week.

Google movement

US – 3% higher than January 2020 levels, down 4pp on week, down 4pp vs June average

Canada – 32% higher than January 2020 levels, up 5pp on week, up 7pp vs June average

Mexico – 8% lower than January 2020 levels, up marginally on week, down 2pp vs June

Brazil – 5% lower than January 2020 levels, stable on week, stable vs June average

Japan – 3% lower than January 2020 levels, down 3pp on week, down 2pp vs June

South Korea - 43% above January 2020 levels, up 1pp on week, up 2pp vs June average

India – 15% lower than January 2020 levels, up 4pp on week, up 11pp vs June average

Indonesia – 6% lower than January 2020 levels, stable on week, down 6pp vs June

Germany – 16% higher than January 2020 levels, down 11pp on week, down 13 pp vs June

France - 18% higher than January 2020 levels, up 2pp on week, up 2pp vs June average

Italy - 21% above January 2020 levels, up 5pp on week, up 7pp vs June average