Retail economy robustness - Honduras election scrutiny - Covid pill efficacy

U.S. shoppers are expected to spend up to $859 billion between this month and next, according to the National Retail Federation. That could be as much as 10.5% more than what was spent during last year's record holiday shopping season. People are expected to spend, on average, $785 on holiday gifts, according to market research firm NPD Group.
...
After 2020, a year of canceled trips, postponed weddings and skipped summer camps, many people entered 2021 ready to spend. This year's holiday gift-buying began earlier than ever, boosting retail spending every month since August.
...
Store discounts won't likely be as deep as in years past. The Great Resignation of retail workers during the pandemic has pushed stores to raise wages faster than they have in years. Amazon, for instance, disclosed that higher pay and other expenses prompted by a lack of workers cost the company $2 billion in the last quarter.

The drugmaker said its pill showed a 30% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths, based on data from 1,433 patients. In October, its data showed a roughly 50% efficacy, based on data from 775 patients. The lower efficacy of Merck's drug could have big implications in terms of whether countries continue to buy the pill.
...
Interim data from 1,200 participants in Pfizer Inc's trial for its experimental pill, Paxlovid, showed an 89% reduction in hopsitalizations and deaths. The Merck and Pfizer pills are cheaper to produce and easier to administer than existing treatment options such as antibody therapies from Regeneron.
...
Pills like molnupiravir and Paxlovid could be promising new weapons in the fight against the pandemic, as they can be taken as early at-home treatments to help prevent COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. They could also become important tools in countries and areas with limited access to vaccines or low inoculation rates.