US consumer spending barely rose in October as households took advantage of rising incomes to boost savings to their highest level in nearly three years, pointing to moderate economic growth in the fourth quarter.

Anaemic consumer spending will probably do little do change expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next month as other data on Wednesday showed a surge in business spending plans in October and a drop in new applications for unemployment benefits last week.

The Commerce Department said consumer spending edged up 0.1 per cent after a similar increase in September. When adjusted for inflation, consumer spending rose by the same margin.

That suggests consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, has slowed from the third quarter’s brisk 3.0 per cent annual pace.

The tepid rise in consumer spending could combine with an anticipated drag from an ongoing inventory reduction to hold the economy to around a 2 per cent growth rate in the fourth quarter. The government reported on Tuesday that the economy expanded at a 2.1 per cent rate in the third quarter.

The economy could get support from business spending. In a separate report, the Commerce Department said non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, increased 1.3 percent last month after rising 0.4 per cent in September.

The report came on the heels of data this month showing a solid increase in manufacturing output in October, and was the latest suggestion that the worst of the drag from a strong dollar and deep spending cuts by energy firms was over.

Fed officials had held off raising rates at their last two meetings as they assessed the degree to which a stronger dollar and a slowing in economies overseas would weigh on the United States.

Manufacturing, which accounts for 12 per cent of the economy, has been slammed by the dollar strength and the spending cuts in the energy sector. The dollar has appreciated 18.1 per cent against the currencies of the United States’ main trading partners since June 2014.

The pace of appreciation, however, is gradually slowing. Economists also believe that the bulk of spending cuts by oil field firms like Schlumberger in response to lower crude prices have already been implemented.

US Treasury debt prices pared gains after the reports, while the dollar hit an eight-month high against a basket of currencies. US stock index futures slightly extended gains.

Economists speculate that rising rents are diverting money from discretionary spending. But as the labour market continues to tighten, there is optimism that wage growth will pick up and encourage consumers to loosen their purse strings and boost spending.

A third report from the Labor Department showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits declined 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 260,000 for the week ended November 21st.

Claims have now held below the 300,000 threshold for 38 consecutive weeks, the longest stretch in years, and remain close to levels last seen in the early 1970s.

Strengthening labour market conditions are gradually lifting income. The Commerce Department said personal income increased 0.4 per cent last month, accelerating after a 0.2 percent gain in September. Wages and salaries shot up 0.6 per cent, the largest increase since May.

Savings increased to $761.9 billion last month, the highest level since December 2012, from $722.9 billion in September. Higher savings could over time buoy consumer spending.

There was still no sign of inflation, which has persistently run below the Federal Reserve’s 2 per cent target.

A price index for consumer spending ticked up 0.1 per cent after declining in September for the first time since January. In the 12 months through October, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index was up 0.2 per cent after a similar rise in September.

Excluding food and energy, prices were unchanged after rising by 0.2 per cent in September. The so-called core PCE price index rose 1.3 per cent in the 12 months through October, for the 10th straight month.

Reuters