The Commerce
Department reported on Friday that consumer spending in the U.S. rose 1.4 percent
m-o-m in September after an unrevised 1.0 percent m-o-m increase in August. Economists had
forecast the reading to show a 1.0 percent m-o-m advance.
Meanwhile,
consumer income increased 0.9 percent m-o-m in September, following a revised 2.5
percent m-o-m fall in the previous month (originally a 2.7 percent m-o-m decline).
This was the largest monthly gain since April. Economists had forecast a 0.4
percent m-o-m gain.
The September surge
in personal income reflected gains in proprietors’ income, compensation of
employees, and rental income of persons that were partly offset by a decrease
in government social benefits.
The personal
consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, excluding the volatile categories
of food and energy, which is the Fed's preferred inflation measure, rose 0.2
percent m-o-m in September, following an unrevised 0.3 percent m-o-m increase
in the prior month.
Economists had projected the index would rise 0.2 percent m-o-m.
In the 12
months through September, the core PCE increased 1.5 percent, following a
revised 1.4 percent climb in the 12 months through August (originally a 1.6
percent climb). Economists had forecast an advance of 1.7 percent y-o-y.