US economy plunged at an annual rate of 31.7 per cent in second quarter, in sharpest drop on record

Previous worst fall in America was recorded in 1958

In the sharpest quarterly drop on record, the US economy shrank at an annual rate of 31.7 per cent during the April-June quarter as it struggled under the weight of the coronavirus pandemic, the government estimated on Thursday.

The Commerce Department downgraded its earlier estimate of the US gross domestic product last quarter, finding that the devastation was slightly less than the 32.9 per cent annualised contraction it had estimated at the end of July.

The previous worst quarterly drop since record-keeping began in 1947 was a 10 per cent annualised loss, which occurred in 1958.

Last quarter, businesses shuttered and millions of workers lost jobs as the world’s largest economy went into lockdown mode in what succeeded only fitfully in limiting the spread of reported viral infections.

The US economy fell an annualised 5 per cent in the first three months of the year as Covid-19 began to make its presence felt in February and March.

A bounce-back in hiring as many businesses reopened suggested that the economy began to recover in June with third quarter growth estimated to be around 20 per cent annualised.

However, economists say a full recovery remains far off given that the virus has yet to be contained and the government’s financial support has faded.

“As we approach the fall, we see four important risks for the economy: a failure to provide further fiscal stimulus, a second wave of Covid-19 infection during the flu season, major election uncertainty and rising trade tensions with China,” said Lydia Boussour, senior US economist at Oxford Economics.

Unemployment is still high at 10.2 per cent, and roughly one million people are applying for jobless aid each week even as the amount they receive has shrunk.

Consumer confidence has tumbled, and although the stock market and home sales are surging, the broader economy shows signs of stalling, and millions face potential evictions from their homes.

The challenges reflect the unusual nature of the downturn, as many US households have increased their savings and paid off debt.

That could either signal a hesitancy to spend as they have in the past or pent-up demand that could be unleashed once the pandemic ends.