(Corrects second sentence of 14th paragraph to say core PCE
price index rose 1.7 percent in October, not September)
* Consumer spending, income rise 0.1 pct
* Durable goods orders up 3.8 pct on aircraft
* Gauge of business spending falls for second month
WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending
was tepid in November and a gauge of business investment plans
fell for a second month, pointing to some loss of momentum in
the economy as the year ends.
The Commerce Department said on Friday consumer spending
ticked up 0.1 percent after rising by the same margin in
October. Economists had expected spending, which accounts for
two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, to rise 0.3 percent.
In another report, the department said non-defense capital
goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for
business spending, fell 1.2 percent last month after declining
0.9 percent in October.
While the reports suggest some slowing in activity, they are
unlikely to change perceptions that economic growth will top 3
percent in the current quarter after a 1.8 percent pace in
July-September, boosted in part by a rebound in inventories.
U.S. stock index futures pared gains on the data, while
prices for U.S. government debt trimmed losses. The dollar fell
against the euro.
The tepid consumer spending is in stark contrast with robust
Black Friday business reported by retailers.
When adjusted for inflation, spending rose 0.2 percent last
month after a similar gain in October. The government on
Thursday revised down third-quarter consumer spending growth to
a 1.7 percent annual pace from 2.3 percent because of a slump in
spending at hospitals.
Income ticked up 0.1 percent last month, the weakest reading
since August, after increasing 0.4 percent in October. Last
month's increase was below economists' expectations for a 0.2
percent rise.
Taking inflation into account, disposable income was flat
after rising 0.3 percent in October.
"The lack of real income growth really raises questions as
to what is going to happen to the economy in the first quarter,"
said Mark Vitner, senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in
Charlotte, North Carolina.
The saving rate dipped to 3.5 percent last month from 3.6
percent in October. Savings slowed to annual rate of $400.9
billion from $419.1 billion the prior month.
The report showed subsiding inflation pressures, which
should help to support spending.
A price index for personal spending was flat last month
after falling 0.1 percent in October. In the 12 months through
November, the PCE index was up 2.5 percent, the smallest rise
since April. That followed a 2.7 percent increase in October.
A core inflation measure, which strips out food and energy
costs, edged up 0.1 percent last month after a similar gain in
October. In the 12 months through November, core PCE rose 1.7
percent after increasing 1.7 percent in October.
But the economy continues to show resilience in the face of
slowing global demand. New orders for long-lasting manufactured
goods jumped 3.8 percent after being flat in October.
Excluding transportation, orders rose 0.3 percent after
rising 1.5 percent in October. Durable goods range from toasters
to big-ticket items such as aircraft which are meant to last
three years and more.
(Reporting By Lucia Mutikani; Additional reporting by Chris
Reese in New York; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
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