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U.S. consumer spending posts biggest increase since 2009
Reuters ^ | 04/29/2019 | Lucia Mutikani

Posted on 04/29/2019 7:30:17 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending increased by the most in more than 9-1/2 years in March, but price pressures remained muted, with a key inflation measure posting its smallest annual gain in 14 months.

The surge in consumer spending reported by the Commerce Department on Monday sets a stronger base for growth in consumption heading into the second quarter after it slowed sharply in the first three months of the year. Tame inflation, however, supports the Federal Reserve’s recent decision to suspend further interest rate increases this year.

Fed officials are scheduled to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday to assess the economy and deliberate on the future course of monetary policy. The U.S. central bank in March dropped forecasts for any interest rate increases this year, halting a three-year policy tightening campaign. The Fed raised borrowing costs four times in 2018.

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, surged 0.9 percent as households stepped up purchases of motor vehicles and spent more on healthcare. Consumer spending edged up 0.1 percent in February. Data for January was revised up to show consumer spending rising 0.3 percent instead of the previously reported 0.1 percent gain.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: consumerspending; economy

1 posted on 04/29/2019 7:30:17 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ll say one thing for the economists. They have sure been right about the disinflationary impulse that globalization would create in the economy.

To have growth, consumption and employment this strong, with essentially no inflation would have been unthinkable 25 years ago.

If not for globalism, interest rates would need to be hundreds of basis points higher than they are today.


2 posted on 04/29/2019 7:36:58 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: babble-on

Unemployment isn’t as strong as it looks. They changed how they measure it in the 90s and lots of discouraged workers no longer count.


3 posted on 04/29/2019 7:43:59 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: babble-on
Oh BS global propaganda boy. If the USA had not off shored so much of our means of production the GDP would be 2 points higher. Inflation is so low because globalists have suppressed wages.

Here is a scary one, wages in socialist UK rise faster than in the USA.

4 posted on 04/29/2019 7:54:01 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: babble-on

Strong growth DOES NOT CREATE INFLATION. Go away globalist Free Traitor™. Your day is done. We’re on to your f’d up ways.


5 posted on 04/29/2019 7:55:41 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Inflation is too many dollars chasing after too few products (among other things). Note the places that have hyperinflation, like Venezuela.

When you live in a land of plenty that is less of a problem. When you enjoy the fruits of honest production the world over there is more “plenty”.

When Marxist central planning constricts production problems arise.


6 posted on 04/29/2019 8:44:47 AM PDT by jdsteel (Americans are Dreamers too!!!)
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To: SeekAndFind

The S&P 500 is currently running at double the increase of the DOW [+.16% to +.08%], and has been strongly performing for a week. I don’t know if there is any significance to that, but my index fund, if it kept up last week’s performance [and it won’t. no tree grows to the sky] would return an annualized fifty percent.


7 posted on 04/29/2019 8:56:46 AM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
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To: central_va

That’s exactly what I meant. What is suppressing inflation is low wage growth, what is suppressing wage growth is globalization. If you remove globalization, interest rates would have to be hundreds of basis points north of where they are today because the productivity of the economy would be so much lower. Economists predicted all of this in the 90’s.


8 posted on 04/29/2019 10:23:15 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: central_va

You’re right it doesn’t create inflation when you have the escape valve of a billion Chinese and Indian unemployed workers to take up the labor market demand.

But absent that, yes, strong growth very often does create inflation unless the central bank modulates the supply of credit in time.


9 posted on 04/29/2019 10:25:15 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: babble-on
But absent that, yes, strong growth very often does create inflation unless the central bank modulates the supply of credit in time.

So wrong. Thank God we have Trump who is sticking it to you sell out radical globalists that are playing into Communists China's plans, a useful tool of the ChiComs.

Both Nationalism and patriotism are the opposite of globalism. You are not a patriot but somehow you are my countrymen. Patriots deserve better than you and your ilk.

10 posted on 04/29/2019 10:34:11 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: babble-on
That’s exactly what I meant. What is suppressing inflation is low wage growth, what is suppressing wage growth is globalization. If you remove globalization, interest rates would have to be hundreds of basis points north of where they are today because the productivity of the economy would be so much lower. Economists predicted all of this in the 90’s.

Somehow the USA thrived for 1787 to 1980 with no trade deficits and very little trade at all. One day I hope to see globalists ground into dog food. I can dream can't I?

11 posted on 04/29/2019 10:36:29 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: jdsteel; babble-on; bert
Read this:

Trade, the Left, and Trump

12 posted on 04/29/2019 10:40:53 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: central_va

Not sure how you keep seeing the exact opposite of what I am actually saying, but I do now give up.


13 posted on 04/29/2019 10:50:23 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: SeekAndFind

funny how that gap coincides with the Obama regime ....


14 posted on 04/29/2019 1:01:51 PM PDT by elbook
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To: SeekAndFind

Satan is ‘the Father of Lies’

The shooter is his follower.


15 posted on 04/29/2019 1:08:12 PM PDT by elbook
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To: central_va

I’ve learned to ignore any information coming from you.


16 posted on 04/29/2019 3:49:55 PM PDT by jdsteel (Americans are Dreamers too!!!)
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To: jdsteel

I’ve learned Free Traitors™ are sniveling cowards incapable of defending themselves.


17 posted on 04/30/2019 4:38:26 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: central_va

Zzzzzzzzz


18 posted on 04/30/2019 5:56:46 AM PDT by jdsteel (Americans are Dreamers too!!!)
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To: jdsteel

I didn’t not post that story, Kaslin did. You should read it old man instead of being an obdurate butt head.


19 posted on 04/30/2019 6:01:48 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: central_va

Zzzzzzzzz


20 posted on 04/30/2019 6:13:30 AM PDT by jdsteel (Americans are Dreamers too!!!)
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