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FRIDAY February 29, 2008

CONSUMER SPENDING UNCHANGED IN JANUARY
Average
growth,
last 12
months

Personal income rose 0.3 percent in January, after
increasing 0.5 percent in December. Wages and salaries, the
largest component of personal income, increased 0.5 percent,
reflecting bonus payments among other things. In December,
wages and salaries increased 0.4 percent.
Real disposable personal income (DPI), income adjusted
for inflation and taxes, increased 0.1 percent in January, the
same increase as in December.
Real consumer spending was unchanged for the second
straight month. Spending on services rose, especially
spending on home energy. In contrast, spending on autos and
parts fell.

December January

Personal
Income

0.4%

0.5%

0.3%

Real DPI

0.1%

0.1%

0.1%

Real
PCE

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

PCE
Prices

0.3%

0.3%

0.4%

Prices, as measured by the personal consumption
expenditures (PCE) price index, increased 0.4 percent in
January, compared with a 0.3 percent increase in December.
12-month
average December January
Personal
Saving
Rate

Personal saving as a percent of disposable personal income
was –0.1 percent in January.

–0.1%

0.4%

–0.1%

Real Disposable Personal Income and
Real Consumer Spending

Percent change (monthly)

1.0

0.5

0.0

-0.5

-1.0
Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Real Disposable Personal Income

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Real Consumer Spending

BEA data—including GDP, personal income, the balance of payments, foreign direct investment, the input-output accounts, and
economic data for states, local areas, and industries—are available on the BEA Web site: www.bea.gov. E-mail alerts are also available.
NOTE: On March 28, 2008, the February estimates of Personal Income and Outlays will be released.
Contact: Ralph Stewart 202–606–2649

Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce