Personal Spending Declines in November

Consumer personal spending fell 0.6% in November, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

Low gasoline prices prevented the larger 0.7% drop economists had forecast, Bloomberg reported.

After accounting for inflation, consumer spending rose, the first increase in six months, Commerce said.

The decline followed an originally reported 1% drop in October, Bloomberg said.

An increase in consumer spending could increase demand for new factory goods and the trucking shipments that get them to stores.