US consumer spending recorded its biggest decline since late 2009 in December, with households appearing to save the extra cash from cheaper gasoline, which could support future consumption. The Commerce Department said on Monday consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, fell 0.3% after a 0.5% again in November.
US consumer spending recorded its biggest decline since late 2009 in December, with households appearing to save the extra cash from cheaper gasoline, which could support future consumption. The Commerce Department said on Monday consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, fell 0.3% after a 0.5% again in November.
It was the largest drop since September 2009 and reflected big declines in spending on both durable and nondurable goods. When adjusted for inflation, consumer spending dipped 0.1%, the weakest reading since last April, after increasing 0.7% in November.
Prices for longer-dated US government debt briefly rose on the data, while the dollar fell against a basket of currencies. US stock index futures pared gains. The data was included in Friday's fourth-quarter gross domestic product report, which showed the economy growing at a 2.6% annual pace, with consumer spending rising at a brisk 4.3% rate - the fastest since 2006.
Despite ending 2014 on a weak note, lower gasoline prices and a firming labor market are expected to provide a huge tailwind to consumer spending in the first quarter. Households have so far used much of the extra income from cheap gasoline to pay down debt and boost savings, according to economists. Gasoline prices have plunged 43% since June, according to US government data.
In December, income increased 0.3% after a similar gain in November. Income at the disposal of households after accounting for inflation increased 0.5%, the largest rise since last March. The saving rate rose to 4.9% from 4.3% in the prior month.
Lower gasoline prices put a damper on price pressures in December, with key inflation gauges slipping further below the Federal Reserve's 2% target. A price index for consumer spending fell 0.2% after a similar decline in November. In the 12 months through December, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index rose 0.7 percent, the weakest reading since October 2009, slowing from a 1.2% increase in November.
Excluding food and energy, prices were unchanged for a second straight month. The so-called core PCE price index increased 1.3% in the 12 months through December. The Fed has repeatedly said it viewed the oil-driven decline in inflation as transitory and expected inflation to move back to its target.
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