Covid-19: US Fed survey on economic revival, outlook and consumer behaviour

US businesses continued to be slammed by the effects of the novel coronavirus epidemic into the middle of May, a Federal Reserve report showed on Wednesday, and few expected a swift recovery despite some signs of hope.

The sharp plunge in economic activity recounted in the US central bank's latest temperature check of business activity across its 12 districts shed light on the depth of the economic pain generated by the virus, which has led to an unprecedented downturn and a US death toll approaching 100,000.

The Fed's survey, known as the "Beige Book," was conducted in April, when non-essential