Spending Growth Rises as Inflation Seems Manageable to Fed Despite Job Market
Several recent data points indicate consumer confidence is on the mend, promising signs of an economic recovery. The Commerce Department reported today a 0.7% rise in consumer spending for last month, which is a good turnaround from the 0.6% decline in September. With income also up 0.2%, marking the second month of rising income, and the best performance yet since the August jump of 1.3% when the Cash for Clunkers program kicked off, the spending environment is starting to loosen. Because consumer spending accounts for nearly 70% of economic activity, this rebound in spending is a good indicator of the…