Job market gloom hasn't been this bad since the Great Recession

Americans haven't been this gloomy about the job market since the Great Recession.

Why it matters: Fears about joblessness have surged since President Trump unveiled plans to impose steep tariffs on foreign goods. • The economy might have hit a soft patch, but it has so far dodged the bleak predictions from a few months ago. • Consumers are still bracing for the worst to come.

By the numbers: As of early August, that pessimism was in step with that of the 2008 financial crisis. • About 62% of consumers believe unemployment will worsen in the year ahead, according to the University of Michigan's latest monthly survey. • That's bounced around a little in the last few months, but consistently hung around levels not seen since the Great Recession.

What they're saying: The concerns a