One third of small U.S. firms see sales drop amid surging Omicron cases

Thirty-three percent of small firms in the United States have reported revenue decreases in the week ended Jan. 9 due to the surge of Omicron cases, the highest since February last year, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing the U.S. Census Small Business Pulse Survey.

Economists expect a sharp but short-lived decrease in economic activities due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, it said, noting that the number of sick days alone has limited the output of many industries.

A growing number of small U.S. businesses have shut locations, with the number of closures surging in Seattle, New York City and Washington, D.C., it said.