Cash in, cash out
American consumers account for 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, so the more they spend, the more the economy grows.
Spending rose just 0.2 percent in January after increases of 0.4 percent and 0.7 percent the previous two months. January’s slowdown came even as consumer incomes jumped because of last year’s tax law overhaul. Did the trend continue in February? Find out Thursday, when the Commerce Department issues its latest consumer spending data.