David Wilkins

Supply shortages and fewer workers are stretching some of the largest companies in the state. But overall, most have returned — or burned past — 2019 sales totals for the second three months of the year.

The pandemic put more challenges onto women, who had to work, care for children and deal with other aspects of the virus. Now the shortage in the labor force is causing more workplaces to consider how to woo them back.

Many of the state’s public companies said rebound still may not be enough to make up for the steep losses earlier in the year.

A look at public filings shows that the leaders of the state’s largest auto businesses don’t yet see the end to COVID-19 slowdowns and sales contraction.

Cereal is selling well for Kellogg amid coronavirus, but many other public companies in the state are still struggling with low earnings.

The number of VC deals in the state dropped from 70 in the first half of 2019 to 41 this year, the lowest total in the past seven years. But several entrepreneurs found ways to survive during the pandemic.

A look at first-quarter financial statements from 20 Michigan-based companies shows the first cracks from the pandemic — and raises questions about how deeply some of the state’s largest businesses will be affected.