August Market Update: Pingdemic

The rules on self-isolation have changed in the UK. As of 16 August, anyone that is fully jabbed, or under 18, do not have to isolate unless they have symptoms themselves. This is a welcome development for businesses, who have been feeling the effects of the ‘pingdemic’ for months.  

The effects on manufacturing and logistics have been huge. Factories up and down the country have seen countless workers off work, and factories struggling to keep up the productivity required to function. It is estimated that more than 75% of manufacturing businesses have been disrupted, with absences estimated for 25% of staff. Similar issues have already been seen within logistics, too. Lorry drivers have also been subject to the ‘pingdemic’, which on top of the existing driver shortage issues, has caused problems particularly for food delivery. 

With the rules now changed, these issues should start to improve. We will keep an eye on these sectors and see if the ‘pingdemic’ has eased and improvements start to be witnessed in the coming weeks.