Activity Gains a Bit More Traction
(Bloomberg) — Economic activity in the world’s most advanced countries continues to improve, though it’s still below levels seen before the global health crisis.
Business at U.S. service providers is growing at a robust pace and imports are accelerating to meet steady sales. Bankruptcies in Japan are declining as the government assists struggling firms. Stronger economic growth will be crucial to stabilizing the world employment picture, more notably in Europe where slack in the labor market is expanding.
Here are some of the charts that appeared on Bloomberg this week, offering insight into the latest developments in the global economy:
World
© Bloomberg
Slow Recovery
![chart, histogram: Slow Recovery](https://www.msn.com/{"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"56","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19RMYp.img?h=562&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"44","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19RMYp.img?h=439&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"44","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19RMYp.img?h=439&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"}})
After a period of economic weakness in August and September, the pace of recovery in most advanced economies gained traction in the past two weeks, though activity is still far below pre-Covid levels, according to Bloomberg Economics gauges.
© Bloomberg
Shallower Slump, Slower Bounceback
![chart, line chart: Shallower Slump, Slower Bounceback](https://www.msn.com/{"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"51","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19L22J.img?h=510&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"40","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19L22J.img?h=398&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"40","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19L22J.img?h=398&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"}})
The
![a person holding a sign posing for the camera: After an accident caused her to undergo a below-the-knee amputation, Christine Yi says finding fitness helped her focus on what she's found (instead of lost).](https://www.msn.com/{"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"40","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19GHgR.img?h=400&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=630&y=167"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"31","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19GHgR.img?h=312&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=630&y=167"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"31","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19GHgR.img?h=312&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=630&y=167"}})
