Gettin' around: How much are we moving around? We explore the latest data from Apple

3/18/21 8:00PM

Slowly but surely Americans are doing more and more. The latest data from Apple, which tracks Apple Maps routing requests across its connected devices, reveals that driving and walking are once again getting back to "normal" (defined here as the average number of requests just before the pandemic, in Feb 2020).

Routing requests for public transport are, unsurprisingly, still way down. Even with a modest uptick in the last few months, usage of public transportation in the US is still down roughly 50% on February 2020 averages.

This mobility data confirms the trend seen in a survey of almost 2,000 adults, which reveals that 16% of respondents have visited a bar, club or other gathering place in the last week, up from just 9% who had done that at the start of March. Americans are doing more and more.

‍What about other countries?

‍The data varies pretty significantly between countries and regions, but the US does seem to be significantly more open than most European countries. Routing requests across the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain are still lower than in the US. Check out the full data here to see a specific country, city or region.

Jake Lahut

PAIN AT THE PUMP

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Gas station in front of the Gordie Howe International Bridge under construction.

Tom Jones12h

The UAE’s OPEC exit will hit the group in the barrels

After just shy of 60 years in OPEC, its membership even predating its status as a nation-state, the United Arab Emirates yesterday announced its shocking departure from the oil production group, effective May 1, as the knock-on effects of the Iran war continue to play out across the Middle East and the energy landscape.

For context, the UAE produces the third-highest amount of oil in the group, per April data and OPEC’s latest set of annual statistics.

According to the cartel’s 2025 Annual Statistical Bulletin, the OPEC group was collectively exporting some 19 million barrels of crude oil a day last year, with the United Arab Emirates accounting for some 14% of that daily output.

UAExit means UAExit

The nation, whose energy minister told Reuters yesterday that the decision was taken “after a careful look at current and future policies related to level of production” and wasn’t made following discussions with any other country, made up a healthy share of the group’s total confirmed crude oil reserves, as well.

Of the 12 nations in the core group, which was founded by just five oil superpowers back in September 1960, only two (Iraq and Saudi Arabia) exported more barrels of crude oil daily, pumping out 3.36 million and 6.05 million barrels, respectively, each day to nations around the world.

For its part, the UAE said it will “continue its responsible role by gradually and thoughtfully increasing production, in line with demand and market conditions,” per the official state news agency. Clearly, the nation now wants a little more control of just how much oil it can pump around the world, with the UAE having to eat a large proportion of lost revenues due to its healthy abundance and OPEC restrictions.