State revenues have plummeted since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country in mid-March to the tune of an estimated $31 billion in lost tax revenues thus far. Further, the analysis by the Urban Institute points to a 6.4 percent reduction in revenue through the month of August, with greater losses possible as coronavirus shutdowns continue in certain states across the nation. On a different note however, spending in the US continued to climb (four consecutive months of growth) in August – up another 1 percent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The three previous months saw increases of 8.7 percent, 6.5 percent and 1.5 percent respectively. And in yet another economic analysis – this one from the University of Michigan, consumer sentiment in September rose to 80.4, the highest point since the coronavirus hit back in March and it represents a 6-point increase from the August figure.