Personal Spending Rises

Consumer personal spending rose 0.5 in January, marking the fourth straight increase, the Commerce Department said Monday.

The increase followed a revised 0.3% gain in December that was greater than originally reported, Commerce said. Incomes rose 0.1%.

Economists had forecast a spending increase of 0.4%, Bloomberg reported.

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