US consumer spending and incomes grew solidly in April

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Americans increased their spending in April at the fastest pace in four months, bolstered by a solid gain in incomes. The strong results underscored expectations that the economy is poised to rebound after a lackluster start to the year.

Consumer spending rose 0.4 percent in April after a 0.3 percent rise in March, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. It was the best showing since December. Incomes also rose 0.4 percent, double the 0.2 percent March increase.

Consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of economic activity, grew at the slowest pace in seven years in the first quarter. That was a key reason the economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, expanded by just 1.2 percent at the start of the year.

Economists are hopeful GDP growth will rebound to around 3 percent in the current April-June quarter.

A key inflation gauge preferred by the Federal Reserve edged up a slight 0.2 percent in April, leaving prices rising just 1.7 percent over the past year – the slowest 12-month gain this year and below the Fed’s 2 percent target. Even with tame inflation, economists believe the Fed will raise rates for a second time this year when official meet June 13-14, especially if the employment report due on Friday shows job growth remaining strong.

“After a two-month hiatus, consumers were out in force this spring, paving the way for a rebound in economic growth,” said Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets.