The Omicron variant is causing far less damage to the European economy than previous waves of Covid-19, an FT analysis of high frequency data shows, thanks in large part to high vaccination rates and society’s improved ability to live with the virus.
Although infection rates across the eurozone have risen to their highest levels since the pandemic began, cinema ticket sales, hotel bookings, job postings and mobility data have fallen far less than in previous surges caused by the coronavirus.