WASHINGTON—The economy’s momentum has reversed in recent weeks with spikes in coronavirus cases that forced a series of renewed stay-at-home orders and business closures. While some states like California, New York, and Michigan have begun to ease restrictions, economists are still pessimistic over the near-term outlook. It will be months before vaccines are widespread enough to help bring the pandemic under control and allow the economic activity to recover, according to forecasters. The U.S. economy shed 140,000 jobs last month, for the first time since the labor market recovery began in May 2020. Unemployment claims remain elevated as restrictions on restaurants, bars, and other businesses pressure employers to slash jobs. Another 900,000 Americans filed for initial jobless claims last week. “The recent sharp rise in initial weekly jobless claims caused by renewed shelter-in-place mandates and business closures is thrusting the U.S. labor market recovery into reverse,” Scott Anderson, chief economist at Bank of …