Consumer Spending Remains Flat in August
555416
WASHINGTON Sept. 30, 2004 - Consumers were tight-fisted with their money amid soaring gasoline costs last month while hurricane-related disruptions sent applications for jobless benefits to their highest level in seven months.
481657
Overall U.S. consumer prices and   costs excluding food and energy both rose 0.2 percent in   August, right in line with market expectations, according to a   Labor Department report on Friday that may help reassure the   Federal Reserve that inflation pressures are continuing to   ease.
168206
Retail sales posted a modest gain in August, helped by the biggest jump in auto sales in more than a year. But there are concerns that spending could falter as the steep slump in housing and financial market turbulence weigh on consumer confidence.
494746
The US Commerce Department said Thursday personal income posted its biggest increase in three months in August. The government agency also said personal spending was unchanged after rising strongly in July.
632912
NEW YORK -- A closely watched gauge of future economic activity slipped in August for the second consecutive month, suggesting that the U.S. economy is cooling.
654769
US consumer confidence sank in August while Chicago-area business activity slowed, according to reports on Tuesday that added to worries the economy&#39;s patch of sluggish growth may last beyond the summer.
523797
WASHINGTON - After taking a rest in June, the nation's consumers were full of energy last month, boosting their spending by a strong 0.8 percent, a hopeful sign the economy may be emerging from a summer funk.    The over-the-month increase in consumer spending, reported by the Commerce Department on Monday, marked a turnaround from the 0.2 percent decline registered in June, when high energy prices and a sluggish job market made for more cautious buyers...
584901
EYES ON THE FED The main news of the week will be the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, at which the central bankers are widely expected to keep interest rates steady (Wednesday). Last weekÂs news that the Consumer Price Index had risen 0.2 percent in August, down from 0.4 percent in July, looked to some economists like validation that inflation was slowing, a trend that would not tempt the Fed to raise rates. But the Producer Price Index for August also comes out this week, helping to inform any decision (Tuesday). Other reports this week will include the second-quarter current-account deficit (Monday), August housing starts (Tuesday) and leading economic indicators (Thursday).
362685
WASHINGTON - Shoppers turned a bit tightfisted in August, dropping sales at the nation's retailers by 0.3 percent, providing fresh evidence of an erratic pace of consumer spending in recent months.    The decline in sales reported by the Commerce Department on Tuesday came after shoppers pushed sales up by a solid 0.8 percent in July as consumers' willingness to spend revived after a June lull...
631726
US consumer spending rebounded in July, a sign the economy may be emerging from an early summer decline. Consumer spending rose 0.8% last month, boosted by car and retail sales.
742877
Consumers became a bit more optimistic toward the end of the August but still felt more cautious on the U.S. economy than they did a month ago, according to survey by the University of Michigan.
569138
WASHINGTON : Healthy wage growth boosted US personal incomes by 0.4 percent in August, but consumer spending was flat for the month, the Commerce Department said.
642269
Hit with soaring gasoline prices, consumers shut their wallets in August, keeping overall spending flat after a revised 1.1 percent jump in the previous month.
239466
Consumer prices rose just 0.1 percent in August, a sign that inflation poses no immediate risk to the economy. The over-the-month-increase in the Consumer Price Index, the government&#39;s most closely watched
491538
The economy logged decent but slower growth in the early summer as some consumers tightened their belts. Despite high energy prices, overall inflation remained fairly moderate.
179464
The US Labor Department said Thursday inflation at the consumer level remained tame in August. The consumer price index rose 0.1 percent in August, reversing a 0.1 percent decline in July, the Labor Department said.
385100
WASHINGTON - After taking a rest in June, the nation's consumers were full of energy last month, boosting their spending by 0.8 percent, a hopeful sign the economy may be emerging from a summer funk.    The over-the-month increase in consumer spending, reported by the Commerce Department on Monday, marked a turnaround from the 0.2 percent decline registered in June, when high energy prices and a sluggish job market made for more cautious buyers...