CORRECTED-U.S. recession to be longer than usual--UMich

(Corrects second paragraph to say Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, not industry group The Conference Board; corrects fourth paragraph to say the Reuters/University of Michigan's expectations index, not the Conference Board's expectations index)

NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. economy has entered a recession that will be more painful and drawn out than the usual downturn, the director of the Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey said on Friday.

Inflation pressures will linger despite the retrenchment in consumer spending, complicating the task of policy-makers, the University's Richard Curtin said in a report, citing data from the Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.

"This is no ordinary recession," he said. "The aftereffects will last much longer than the typical downturn."

He said the Reuters/University of Michigan's expectations index is a strong predictor of economic contractions, and that it is currently flashing red.

With Americans getting hit with everything from a housing downturn to excess borrowing, things will get worse before they get better.

"Consumers must take more drastic steps to stabilize their finances in the midst of high fuel and food prices, stagnant incomes, and record debt," Curtin said.

TWO AMERICAS

The new report adds that a rising wealth gap will, even more than usual, lead to disproportionate pain for middle- and lower-income Americans.