Consumer sentiment falls in late July

Americans grew more worried about the economy toward the end of July after a fresh outbreak of coronavirus cases chipped away at the recovery and cast doubt on how quickly the U.S. will rebound from the worst health-care crisis in a century.

The final reading of the consumer sentiment survey in July slipped to 72.5 from an initial 72.9, the University of Michigan said Friday. The index registered 73.2 in June.

The level of sentiment is now barely above the pandemic low, erasing most of the momentum gained in late May and June as large swaths of the economy reopened.

What happened: Consumers expressed less confidence in the current state of the economy. An index that measures attitudes right now fell to 82.8 from 87.1

Americans also doubt the recession will end anytime soon. An index that measures expectations for the next six months sank to 65.9 from 72.3 and matched a six-year low recorded in May.

Richard Curtin, the chief economist of the sentiment survey, said massive federal aid has kept U.S. from sinking into an even deeper recession, but he fretted that the economy could suffer another dip unless Washington provides more financial relief.

The two parties are deadlocked over another aid package with emergency unemployment and other benefits on the cusp of expiring.

“The federal relief programs have prevented more substantial declines in consumer finances, partially shielding consumers from the unprecedented surge in job losses, reduced work hours, and salary cuts,” Curtin said. “The lapse of the special jobless benefits will directly hurt the most vulnerable and spread even further by missed rent, mortgage, and other debt payments.”