Real Consumer Spending Increases in March

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported this week that real consumer spending (PCE), spending adjusted for price changes, increased 0.4 percent in March after decreasing 0.2 percent in February. Spending on durable goods increased 1.1 percent in March after decreasing 0.1 percent in February. PCE prices were unchanged in March after increasing 0.2 percent in February. Excluding food and energy, PCE prices increased 0.2 percent in March, the same increase as in February.

Current-dollar disposable personal income (DPI), after-tax income, increased 0.3 percent in March, the same increase as in February. Real DPI, income adjusted for taxes and inflation, increased 0.2 percent in March after increasing 0.1 percent in February. Personal saving as a percent of DPI was 3.1 percent in March after 3.3 percent in February.

For more information, read the full report.