Retail employment fell 15 percent over March and April, though it has recovered substantially since then, and in July it was 6 percent below the pre-COVID level. It is encouraging to see that even those sectors most heavily affected by the crisis are finding ways to innovate.
Stores are adjusting hours and ramping up delivery, restaurants are changing menus and creating outdoor space, distilleries shifted from making bourbon to hand sanitizers, and independent businesses that hadn’t previously relied heavily on technology are now using it to stay connected to customers and regulate workflow.