U.S. economic forecast dims, job recovery may reverse

The reimplementation of virus-related lockdowns in some states dragged the U.S. economic outlook in the past month, according to economists in a Reuters poll who also warned that the monitored rebound in employment may reverse by the end of the year.

On an annualized basis, the U.S. economy recorded a 33.8% decline last quarter. Though it is expected to recover with a 17.8% growth in the third quarter, it would still place weaker than the 18.5% growth predicted last month. In addition to this, its 6.5% expansion expected in the following three months would still come lower than the 8.0% prediction.

Thirty-two out of 56 economists said that the monitored rebound in employment would reverse by the end of the year. Twenty-three said that the risk was low, while only one said the probability was very low.