WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending was unexpectedly flat in April as households cut back on purchases of automobiles and continued to boost savings, suggesting the economy was struggling to gain momentum early in the second quarter.
The Commerce Department report on Monday also showed no inflation pressures, with a price index for consumer spending recording its smallest gain since late 2009 on an annual basis.
The weak data suggests the Federal Reserve will probably not raise interest rates before the end of the year.
The unchanged reading in consumer spending followed a 0.5 percent increase in March. Consumer spending was also curbed by weak demand for utilities as temperatures warmed up.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, increasing 0.2 percent in April.
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The dollar pared gains against a basket of currencies, while prices for U.S. government debt trimmed losses. U.S. stock index futures were trading slightly higher.
When adjusted for inflation, consumer spending also was unchanged in April after rising 0.4 percent in March.
MUDDLING ALONG
The economy is slowly rebounding from its first-quarter slump, hamstrung by a strong dollar and deep spending cuts in the energy sector, which has been slammed by a plunge in crude oil prices, as well as the penchant by households to hoard cash.
Gross domestic product contracted at a 0.7 percent annual rate in the first three months of the year.
But with output held down by a confluence of temporary factors, including a problem with the model the government uses to smooth the data for seasonal fluctuations, the decline in GDP likely overstates the economy's weakness.
While soft consumer spending added to industrial production data in suggesting growth was tepid at the start of the second quarter, upbeat reports on the labor market, business spending plans and housing have hinted at some momentum.
With the tightening jobs market expected to boost wage growth, consumer spending is expected to accelerate in the coming months, also supported by the massive savings households accumulated from cheaper gasoline.
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In April, personal income rose 0.4 percent after being flat the prior month. That reflected a jump in wages and salaries. With income outpacing consumer spending, the saving rate increased to 5.6 percent from 5.2 percent in March.
With consumption muted, price pressures were benign in April, pulling inflation further below the Fed's 2 percent target.
A price index for consumer spending was unchanged after rising 0.2 percent in March. In the 12 months through April, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index edged up 0.1 percent, the smallest gain since October 2009.
Excluding food and energy, prices ticked up 0.1 percent for a third straight month. The so-called core PCE price index increased 1.2 percent in the 12 months through April, slowing from an increase of 1.3 percent in March. The Fed closely watches this price gauge for monetary policy.
