The COVID-19 pandemic delivered a profound shock to the global economy, evident in widespread rating downgrades during 2020-21. Five years later, corporate credit quality has largely returned to pre-pandemic levels. This recovery has been primarily driven by extraordinary government interventions and the rapid normalization of conditions once the health crisis subsided. Nevertheless, structural shifts triggered or accelerated by the pandemic have left lasting effects in certain sectors.
Learn more about the global impact and lingering risks from the pandemic:
Corporate credit quality has bounced back from the pandemic, but some sectors left scarred
Government action and a swift post-lockdown recovery have helped lift credit quality. But some sectors still carry debt from the pandemic and struggle with the structural changes it accelerated.
Available in: 中文, Español, Português, Français
Global debt growth is easing after pandemic-era surge
Global debt-to-GDP ratios are below peaks and have stabilized to pre-pandemic levels for corporate and household sectors. The government sector is the outlier, with its debt ratio rising again. Nearly half of the increase within the past five years have originated from emerging markets. Meanwhile, several advanced economies have led debt accumulation.
Mass transit hubs recover despite low ridership after COVID but capex funding uncertain
Global mass transit systems have reduced their reliance on passenger revenue as lower ridership and utilization rates persist, reflecting a structural shift in commuting patterns. Some margins have recovered, but funding for much-needed capital investment is uncertain for major cities like London and Paris.
COVID widened gap between investment-grade and speculative-grade companies
Some companies emerged stronger from the shock because they were in a better position to take advantage of the changes accelerated by the pandemic, or because they used revenue windfalls to reduce debt.
Funding cuts loom for Europe’s regional governments as sovereigns repair public finances five years after COVID
Europe’s regional governments face rising credit risks as sovereigns consider cutbacks to fix public finances after the pandemic and inflationary shocks. Liquidity buffers, financial flexibility and fiscal policy clarity would soften the impact of funding cuts for some.
Available in: Français
Visit the macro views topic page to view all in-depth resources from our recently concluded Credit after Covid campaign.