Mobility in many major economies fall, Google data shows
Quantum Commodity Intelligence - Mobility in some of the world's biggest gasoline consuming nations slipped in the week ending 27 June, according to Google data, with the only countries showing a major rise being Japan and India, both of which are coming out of a series of local lockdowns.
The data, which measures movement via people's phones, showed a slowdown in the US, Mexico, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Germany, India and Australia to varying degrees.
Measured against January 2020 data, the figures don't protray seasonal changes, but rather point to a broader trend.
In the US, for example, the data showed that movement was up 4% on January 2020 levels, although this is 4 percentage points frown from a week earlier.
It is the fifth highest week for mobility since the pandemic began, however.
The figures are at slight odds with official government figures, which this morning showed Americans made an estimated 1.3 billion trips in the first three weeks of June, up 1% on May figures.
Elsewhere, the figures show Japanese movement rose 3 percentage points on the week, as lockdown continues to ease.
The figure, however, shows movement remains 6% lower than January's levels.
Mexican movement is 8% down on January 2020 levels, 3 points down on the week, Indonesia is 6% down on January 2020 levels, down 3 points, and Brazilian movement was broadly unchanged.
The figures come as fears over a new wave of the Delta variant of Covid-19 could derail the economic recovery in nations that have low vaccination rates.
Google movement
US – 4% higher than January 2020 levels, down 4pp on the week
Japan – 6.7% lower than January 2020 levels, up 3pp on the week
Canada – 25% higher than January 2020 levels, down marginally on the week
Mexico – 9% lower than January 2020 levels, 3pp down on the week
Indonesia – 6% lower than January 2020 levels, 3pp down on the week
Brazil – 5% lower than January 2020 levels, up 1pp on the week
Saudi Arabia – 4.8% higher than January 2020 levels, 0.2 pp on the week
Germany – 20% higher than January 2020 levels, down 10pp on the week
India – 18% lower than January 2020 levels, up 7pp on the week
