Covid 19 and the Economy
Covid 19 Dashboard – Maricopa County
PERCENT OF LABOR FORCE UNEMPLOYED
Not Seasonally Adjusted (June 2021 number is provisional)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics
In January 2020, approximately 4.2 percent of Maricopa County’s total labor force was unemployed. This increased to 13.5 percent of Maricopa County’s total labor force in April 202, with a second peak of 10.3 percent in June and July 2020. These are the revised figures published by BLS in April 2021.
For June 2021, BLS provisionally estimates that 6.6 percent of Maricopa County’s total labor force was unemployed.
GOOGLE COMMUNITY MOBILITY DATA
Source: Google LLC “Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports”.
https://www.google.com/covid19/mobility/ Accessed: August 18, 2021
Google’s mobility reports show relative changes, rather than absolute visitors or duration. The chart above shows how visitors to (or time spent in) three types of place have changed compared to the median value for the corresponding day of the week during Google’s January 3 – February 6, 2020 baseline.
Work trips were up to 47.4 percent lower than the January 3 – February 6 2020 baseline in April last year. The unemployment rate peaked in the county in that month at 13.5 percent. During August 1-14, 2021, work trips were up to 30.0 percent lower than the baseline.
Retail and recreation trips were up to 41.4 percent lower than the January 3 – February 6 2020 baseline in mid-April last year. During August 1-14, 2021, retail and recreation trips were up to 16.1 percent lower than the baseline.
Grocery and pharmacy store visits were up to 18.1 percent lower than the January 3 – February 6 2020 baseline in mid-April last year. During August 1-14, 2021, grocery and pharmacy store visits were up to 8.6 percent lower than the baseline.
TAXABLE SALES
The table below compares total taxable sales for two purchase categories for the March 2019 through December 2019 time horizon with March 2020 through December 2020. Total retail activity has increased 6.0 percent in Maricopa County compared to the same ten months in 2019, but the distribution of 2020’s retail activity by type of store will be very different. Grocery and home improvement stores will both in all probability account for a greater proportion of total retail activity in 2020 compared to 2019. Restaurant and Bar purchases are down 19.4 percent in Maricopa County compared to the same ten months in 2019.
Comparing both full calendar years, total retail activity in CY2020 in Maricopa County is 6.5 percent higher than CY2019. Total restaurant and bar purchases in CY2020 in Maricopa County is 15.0 percent lower than CY2019.
| Purchase Category | March 2019 – December 2019 | March 2020 – December 2020 | Percent Change |
| Retail | $42,490,744,746 | $45,036,325,126 | +6.0% |
| Restaurants and Bars | $9,230,832,091 | $7,437,423,877 | -19.4% |
The table below compares total taxable sales for two purchase categories in Maricopa County for January through June 2021 with the same six months in 2020 and 2019. Total retail activity has increased 22.7 percent in Maricopa County compared to the same six months in 2020, and 25.8 percent compared to the same six months in 2019. Restaurant and Bar purchases are up 22.8 percent in Maricopa County compared to the same six months in 2020, and 2.2 percent up compared to the same six months in 2019.
| Purchase Category | January – June 2019 | January – June 2020 | January – June 2021 | Percent Change in 2021 Compared to 2020 |
| Retail | $26,162,968,764 | $26,810,442,668 | $32,905,148,920 | +22.7% |
| Restaurants and Bars | $5,819,842,560 | $4,843,111,348 | $5,945,415,463 | +22.8% |