The consumer safety story continues to dominate the week's headlines. The national cyclospora outbreak has resulted in 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases plus more than 11,500 additional suspected cases, Reuters reported, a jump of more than 2,500 confirmed cases in one week and now confirming the outbreak as the largest cyclosporiasis event in U.S. history.

Michigan alone reported 9,680 cases Tuesday, up 427 from the previous day, with 160 hospitalizations, per Reuters. At least one case has now been reported in 41 states.

"The U.S. food supply is safe," acting FDA commissioner Prater said at the International Association for Food Protection annual conference Monday, The New York Times reported — even as he acknowledged the FDA is now tracking a cyclospora outbreak that has sickened more than 11,000 people, a salmonella outbreak that prompted the recall of 19 million eggs, and an E. coli outbreak linked to organic blueberries.

U.S. consumers are steering clear of some restaurant chains and buying less lettuce in grocery stores as the outbreak fuels confusion. Diners' foot traffic data show restaurants that used Taylor Farms lettuce were still absorbing hits Tuesday, more than 10 days after Taco Bell removed the affected product.

Ford adds another recall

Ford added another safety recall Tuesday: 79,579 model-year 2026-27 Ford Explorers and Lincoln Aviators for a driver's seat that could "recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start" — potentially trapping rear-seat passengers, Reuters reported. The recall — number 26S53 — brings Ford's July total to more than 1 million U.S. vehicles.

Consumer confidence slides to 90.8 as labor views weaken

With all the bad news, it's not surprising the Conference Board's consumer confidence index slipped to 90.8 in July from an upwardly revised 92.2 in June, missing the 92.3 forecast in a Reuters poll of economists.

Bloomberg's survey had expected 92.4, per Bloomberg. "Americans' confidence in the economy fell this month as gas prices resumed their climb after the U.S. and Iran stepped up their fighting," The Associated Press reported.

The interior detail was worse than the headline. Consumers' view of current business and labor market conditions fell by 3.6 points to 114.9, the third straight monthly decline. Views about their near-term futures held steady from June at a reading of 74.7. "Consumers' write-in responses on factors affecting the economy continued to be mostly pessimistic in July," said Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, cited by Reuters.

"Notably, references to jobs and unemployment picked up lightly." Separately, U.S. single-family house prices increased 0.3 percent in May and rose 2.2 percent in the 12 months through May, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said, per Reuters, a rebound after April's 0.1 percent dip and a signal that home prices continue setting all-time highs even as sales sag. The affordability squeeze has now stretched five straight months.