Posted on 11/01/2010 7:39:09 AM PDT by Qbert
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans slowed their spending in September to the weakest pace in three months and their incomes fell for the first time in 14 months.
Personal spending rose at an annual rate of 0.2 percent in September, the Commerce Department said Monday. That's below the 0.5 percent gains recorded in July and August.
Incomes fell 0.1 percent in September, following a 0.4 percent rise in August that had been pushed higher by the return of extended unemployment benefits.
The drop in incomes was the first decline since incomes fell 0.3 percent in July 2009. The August gain had been skewed by the reinstatement of an extended unemployment benefits program, which had temporarily lapsed in July after Republicans had blocked an extension.
Those extended benefits expire at the end of November. It's unclear if Democrats can muster enough votes to pass one more extension of benefits before the year ends.
The weak growth in spending and incomes underscored how fragile the economy remains. Consumers facing high unemployment and slow job growth remain reluctant to spend.
"In the current environment, consumption cannot outgrow incomes for long. Without a meaningful acceleration in jobs growth, which remains unlikely, consumption growth will slow again," Paul Dales, chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics, said in a research note.
Consumer spending is watched closely because it accounts for 70 percent of total economic activity.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
QE2010 and forever!!!
Quantitative Easing now, Quantitative Easing tomorrow, Quantitative Easing forever!
Recovery Summer continues!
dammit, I don’t see the word “unexpectedly” anywhere in that article...someone at Yahoo needs to be fired!
Savings down too and ...
Personal Income And Spending Both Miss Expectations, As Savings Rate Drops To 2010 Low
The reason for the first 2010 negative print in personal income: expiration of unemployment benefits
Expect this drag to accelerate as more unemployed hit the 99 week limit, and more emergency benefits expire.
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