Statement from U.S. Commerce Department Chief Economist Mark Doms on Personal Income and Outlays in January 2011
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released data on personal income and outlays for January 2011. Personal income increased 1.0 percent in January, exceeding private-sector expectations of a 0.4-percent rise. Wages and salaries, the largest component of income, rose 0.3 percent, perhaps hampered by more severe than usual weather in some parts of the country. Real consumer spending edged down 0.1 percent in January but has already risen 0.8 percent at an annual rate above its fourth-quarter average.