Delta variant is weighing on U.S. growth, economists say

The nation's business economists now expect slower economic growth this year due to the widespread Delta variant of COVID-19, while also saying the economy could improve more quickly next year as vaccinations become more accepted.

In a survey released Monday, the National Association of Business Economists (NABE) found that its panel now expects full-year economic growth of 5.6%, down from a forecast for 6.7% growth in NABE's previous survey in May. However, economists raised their forecast for 2022 economic growth to 3.5% from a previous outlook of 2.8%.

The NABE's findings are based on the responses of 47 forecasters earlier this month.