Quebra nas vendas e serviços adensa receio de contração na Zona Euro

[Info.]

8:30am 02/02/04 U.S. DEC. PERSONAL SAVINGS RATE 1.3%, LOWEST IN A YEAR
8:30am 02/02/04 U.S. DEC. PCE PRICE INDEX UP 0.2%, CORE UP 0.2%
8:30am 02/02/04 U.S. DEC. CURRENT DOLLAR INCOMES UP 0.2%
8:30am 02/02/04 U.S. DEC. REAL CONSUMER SPENDING UP 0.2%
8:30am 02/02/04 U.S. DEC. CURRENT DOLLAR SPENDING UP 0.4%
8:30am 02/02/04 U.S. DEC. REAL DISPOSABLE INCOMES FLAT
8:31am 02/02/04 U.S. DEC. WAGES DOWN 0.3%, FIRST DROP IN 14 MONTHS


U.S. Dec. incomes, spending slow
WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - Growth in real disposable U.S. personal incomes ground to a halt in December while real consumer spending rose a modest 0.2 percent, the Commerce Department estimated Monday.
The personal savings rate fell to 1.3 percent from 1.5 percent, the lowest in a year, and half the rate seen in August.
In current dollar terms, spending increased 0.4 percent in December after a revised 0.5 percent in November, while personal incomes gained 0.2 percent after a revised 0.3 percent in November.
Spending on durable goods, especially autos, rose 2.1 percent in December, accounted for most of the gains in spending.
Wages and salaries continued to lag in December, falling 0.3 percent, the first decline in 14 months.


ECONOMIC REPORT: Incomes, spending slow in Dec.
By Rex Nutting, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 8:37 AM ET Feb. 2, 2004

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - Growth in real disposable U.S. personal incomes ground to a halt in December while real consumer spending rose a modest 0.2 percent, the Commerce Department estimated Monday.

The personal savings rate fell to 1.3 percent from 1.5 percent, the lowest in a year and half the rate seen in August.

Disposable personal incomes increased just 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter after an 8.1 percent gain in the third quarter, when tax cuts and tax rebate checks were implemented.

Consumers can expect another round of tax refunds when they file their 2003 taxes in the next few months, which should boost their incomes.

Real disposable income growth in November was revised lower from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent. Real spending in November was revised higher from 0.5 percent to 0.6 percent.

The figures are adjusted for price changes and for seasonal factors. Inflation remained low in December, with the personal consumption expenditure index rising 0.2 percent. The core PCE index -- which excludes food and energy costs -- also rose 0.2 percent.

Over the past year, the core PCE index is up just 0.7 percent, the lowest inflation rate in more than 40 years.

In current dollar terms, spending increased 0.4 percent in December after a revised 0.5 percent in November, while personal incomes gained 0.2 percent after a revised 0.3 percent in November. Current-dollar disposable incomes also increased 0.2 percent in current dollar terms in December after 0.3 percent in November.

Economists were looking for current dollar incomes to rise 0.2 percent and spending to climb 0.5 percent, according to a survey conducted by CBS MarketWatch.

Spending on durable goods, especially autos, rose 2.1 percent in December, accounted for most of the gains in spending in the month. Spending on nondurable goods fell 0.2 percent while spending on services rose 0.1 percent.

Wages and salaries continued to lag in December, falling 0.3 percent, the first decline in 14 months. For the fourth quarter, wages and salaries increased at 1.9 percent annual pace.

Proprietors' incomes continued to expand, rising 0.9 percent in December and at a 5.6 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter. Rental income soared at an 80.6 percent annual pace in the quarter.