For the second consecutive month in February, consumer spending rose, the Commerce Department said on March 27.
Personal consumption expenditures increased $17.2 billion, or 0.2%, from January, in line with analysts expectations.
Expenditures had risen $94.8 billion, or 1%, in January based on revised estimates.
Consumer spending is a key barometer of the U.S. economy facing prolonged recession after a housing mortgage crisis sparked financial turmoil across the globe and caused a severe economic downturn.
The report showed that personal income contracted 0.2% in February, slightly weaker than expected by analysts. In January, personal income had increased by 0.2%.
Personal income, which tracks income from all sources, is the largest component of total income is wages and salaries estimated using payrolls and earnings data.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009
