Office space expenses rise as workers return - December 29, 2021

The cost of office maintenance is increasing as employees head back to the office due in part to more robust air filtration and newly installed outdoor spaces. By December, about 40% of workers had returned at least part time. Earlier in the pandemic, operating costs were down as more companies went remote, saving on services like cleaning and security. Facebook Pushes Ahead With NYC Farley Project in Bet on Offices - BloombergWhat if we didn't build a single new building in 2022? - Fast Company @JunkScience: "Many companies are scrutinizing their ventilation, which could involve... replacing the building’s air more frequently." Existing 'green building' calculations of energy efficiency are out the window. New York City’s tourism industry is taking a hit as museums, concerts and Broadway theaters struggle to keep doors open amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. The city limited the number of revelers who can attend the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square to 15,000 – a fraction of the million people who packed in for celebration in years past. The Metropolitan Museum of Art re-instituted half-capacity restrictions and Broadway attendance has dropped by 23% from the prior week. 'Ain't Too Proud' to Close on Broadway as Covid-19 Takes Its Toll - The New York Times @AliBaumanTV: Omicron is forcing some Broadway shows to cancel performances. The uncertainty is bad for business and bad for the 97,000 jobs Broadway generates. Strong consumer demand, continuing supply chain issues and the emergence of the omicron variant threaten to prolong sharply rising prices well into 2022, potentially positioning inflation as the premier economic challenge of the new year. Snack giant Mondelez – whose brands include Oreos, Ritz and Chips Ahoy – said it is planning a 7% U.S price increase in January. These Food Items Are Getting More Costly in 2022 - The Wall Street Journal China's Stable Economy Clouded by Property and Export Outlook - Bloomberg The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating 8