US consumer confidence fades further in August

WASHINGTON: US consumer confidence continued to deteriorate in August, falling below the level seen in the early weeks of the pandemic as coronavirus cases rise, according to a survey released Tuesday.
After dropping in July, the Conference Board’s consumer confidence index fell further to 84.8 in August from 91.7 the month prior as sentiment about the present situation and near-term prospects worsened further.
The survey showed attitudes about “both business and employment conditions had deteriorated over the past month,” said Lynn Franco, The Conference Board’s senior director for economic indicators.
“Consumers’ optimism about the short-term outlook, and their financial prospects, also declined and continues on a downward path,” Franco said.
And while spending has rebounded in recent months, “Increasing concerns amongst consumers about the economic outlook and their financial well-being will likely cause spending to cool in the months ahead.”
With the White House still unable to resolve its impasse with Democratic leaders in Congress over a new spending package after expanded unemployment benefits and other aid measures expired at the end of July, survey respondents were more pessimistic about their job prospects as well.
Optimism had picked up in June as the pandemic lockdowns seemed to be working, but as more businesses reopened and the debate over mask use turned political, the country saw a surge in COVID-19 infections in July.
The pandemic has now claimed nearly 180,000 lives in the world’s largest economy, and August has been marked by several aborted attempts by major universities to reopen as usual, forcing them to return to online classes.
“We suspect that still-widespread COVID-19 infections are undermining confidence, and the expiration of federal unemployment benefits is also dampening spirits,” Kathy Bostjancic of Oxford Economics said in an analysis.
The survey showed a smaller proportion of consumers expected more jobs in the months ahead while a higher share expect their incomes to decline.
“Households are becoming more cautious in their outlook for continued healing in the economy,” Bostjancic said.

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M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.