The great Return to Office is grinding to a halt. Much of America Inc. had planned to get back to normal come fall, but Covid-19’s delta variant had other ideas. Companies from Google to Uber are delaying their back-to-the-office schedules and mask mandates are on the agenda again. The new faces of the U.S. pandemic are younger and sicker, and President Joe Biden’s summer of joy is now one of frustration. But there are some reasons for optimism: Vaccinations are rebounding in America’s hotspots and more than 4 billion shots have been administered worldwide. 

Robinhood’s attempt to make history fell flat after delivering the worst debut on record for an initial public offering of its size. While some retail investors shunned the stock, it did get the blessing of Cathie Wood.

China’s tech crackdown prompted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to block Chinese IPO filings for now, and clients at Goldman Sachs are wondering if the country has become “uninvestable.” An 18-year prison sentence for a hog farmer sent a tough warning to billionaires, while a Hong Kong court handed a nine-year term to a waiter as part of Beijing’s effort to crush civil liberties there.

The price of pretty much everything is rising—the cost of getting married is no exception. And, as Stephen Mihm writes in Bloomberg Opinion, getting hitched during an economic downturn actually makes for longer-lasting unions.

A woman tries on a wedding dress at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City. The cost of getting married in America this summer has skyrocketed.

Help wanted: Amazon is hiring a digital currency executive. Even hedge funds are looking to get in on the excitement of crypto. But beware, U.S. senators are eyeing crypto taxes as a way to help fund Biden’s infrastructure plan.

This summer, U.S. national parks are so jammed that Congress is getting involved. Even airline crews are having trouble securing hotel rooms and transportation. For a less crowded trip, there’s a hotel in Antarctica—just don’t call it a hotel. 

The zero-footprint structures comprising Wolf’s Fang in Antarctica are more like tents than domes.

Photographer: Kelvin Trautman

• The U.S. jobs report may show how the labor market is healing.
• Alibaba’s earnings could shine a light on China’s tech crackdown.
• Uber and Lyft will provide a health check on the U.S. gig economy.
• The Bank of England sets interest rates, with inflation surging.
• It’s week two of the Olympics, and the bubble appears to be working.

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Even Your Little Beach Vacation Will Cost More 

Many Americans are eager to get away after scarcely leaving their neighborhoods for 18 months. Whether due to fear of a resurgent coronavirus fueled by the delta variant or the chaos that is air travel this summer, many would-be vacationers are looking closer to home. In the New York area, that means a more intense hunt for beach getaways on Long Island or the Jersey Shore. But pent-up demand has also made staying local an expensive proposition—and definitely more pricey than before the pandemic.

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