Some statistics are undeniably good, illustrating the rebound capacity of the world's largest economy.

Thus, 18.5 million jobs have been recreated since April 2020 when the unemployment rate peaked at 14.7% after the economy paralyzed to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

The unemployment rate is steadily declining.

But at 4.2% in November, it is still higher than the 3.5% recorded in February 2020, when it was at its lowest level in 50 years.

With massive aid swelling household savings - the excess savings stock was still $ 1.321 billion in October - some Americans are in no rush to get back to work.

Millions more, mostly unskilled people in the service industries, quit every month, attracted to higher paying jobs, with bonuses and benefits.

As a result, US consumer confidence improved in December, with low-wage workers expecting further increases.

Sustained growth

But for employers, the job market has become a headache, especially for those in the hotel and restaurant industry, as well as education, facing an unprecedented labor shortage hampering their growth potential.

Workers are turning to jobs offered by large e-commerce groups such as Amazon.

As a result, in some schools across the country, teachers are burnt out and for lack of resources, public establishments have started sending children home once a week, to the chagrin of parents and at the risk of hampering productivity. and the growth of the country.

The US economy experienced its worst recession since World War II in 2020.

This year, it has certainly regained ground, but the crazy pace at the start of the year has given way to measured growth.

After an expansion of the Gross Domestic Product of 6.4% in the first quarter on an annual basis, GDP jumped 6.7% in the second quarter when the vaccination campaign against the Covid was in full swing and consumers were optimistic about the future.

Biden orders release of 50 mln barrels from US strategic oil reserves ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS AFP

But a resurgence of the pandemic in late summer and fall with the appearance of the Delta variant tempered growth: 2.1% in the third quarter.

Now, it is the emergence of a new variant, Omnicron, which obscures the economic horizon.

Prices at the highest for 39 years

Besides the pandemic, runaway inflation is also a threat to American growth.

The price increase amounted to 6.8% last month compared to November 2020, after + 6.2% in October, according to data from the Department of Labor.

This is the largest increase on record since June 1982.

Americans pay more for everything: from food, to clothes, to cars, gasoline, electronics, or plane tickets and restaurants.

And the increase in their wages does not completely offset the level of inflation, at the risk of slowing down consumption, the historic engine of growth in the United States.

President Joe Biden promised last month to reverse the price curve, but the task is proving more difficult than expected.

President Joe Biden in Washington, November 23, 2021 Brendan Smialowski AFP

In addition, the figures published Friday will further complicate the adoption in the Senate of its plan "Build Back Better", "build back better".

Worth some 1,800 billion dollars, it provides for ambitious social reforms - such as schooling from three years old - and measures to fight against climate change.

According to the Biden administration, it is about reforming America in depth.

But Republicans, and even some Democrats, argue that with inflation so high, now is not the time to pass such a massive bill.

The House of Representatives approved the bill in mid-November.

Democratic Senate leaders aim to get it passed before Christmas.

Without certainty after months of political psychodrama.

© 2021 AFP