In the first seven months of 2021, cargo volumes between Asia and North America were up by 27% compared with pre-pandemic levels.

Japan’s economy shrank in the first quarter of 2021 amid a resurgence of Covid-19 infections, but is expected to return to growth as soon as the current quarter with help from manufacturing exports.

The U.S., U.K. and China are roaring ahead, while most lower income nations are struggling, reversing decades of progress in alleviating global poverty. “This has become the inequality virus.”

Despite the pandemic, it was a record-setting year for the world’s wealthiest- with a $5 trillion surge in wealth and an unprecedented number of new billionaires.

The world’s traditional growth engine reported an 18.3 percent leap in the first quarter. But consumers and small businesses aren’t fully sharing in the spoils.

Pressures on global supply chains are increasing and disruptions are likely to only get worse as summer approaches and the economy booms.