SmallBusinessNewz

The economy continues to make unsteady progress over the last few months, according to new research from Consumer Reports.

Concerns surrounding the lack of job creation and financial difficulties facing Americans could be driving factors putting a recovery at risk, according to the Consumer Reports Index for August.

The Consumer Reports Employment Index is down in August, 50.2, from 51.1 in July barely staying in positive territory. The overall labor force has slowed considerably in the past month with significantly fewer Americans claiming to have started a new job in the past 30-days, 5.9 percent, compared to 7.8 percent in the previous month.

While the Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker Index declined this month to 56.6 from 57.6 the prior month, and is down from its recent high in June (63.5), as well as from a year ago (61.7), the overall specific improvement over the past 30 days were small. 

The positive developments for Americans included: a decline in missed mortgage payments to 2.4% from 3.9% in June; and, a drop in the proportion of Americans' homes entering foreclosure - 0.6% following two months of increases. But the thorn in Americans' side continues to be healthcare coverage. Nearly one-in-ten (9.7%) reported reduced coverage, up from the prior month (8.9%) and at its highest level recorded since April 2009.  This is another reflection of a weak employment situation.

"This is a recovery at risk," said Ed Farrell, a director of the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

"There are several factors fueling this uncertainty, including job creation, which remains anemic along with consumers' sentiment, which has held steady in negative territory for two years reflecting that Americans have not seen any real improvement in their financial situations since we entered this recession."

Other highlights from the Consumer Reports Trouble Tracker detailing the most common difficulties faced by Americans include:

*Inability to afford medical bills or medications (15.4%), down from 16.0% in July

*Missed payment on a major bill - not mortgage (10.2%), even with July (10.0%)

*Lost or reduced healthcare coverage (9.7%), up from 8.9% in July