Consumer Spending, Wage Gains in U.S. Probably Slowed in August

Consumer spending in the U.S. probably slowed in August as growing pessimism and a lack of jobs restrained the biggest part of the economy, economists said before a report today.

Purchases rose 0.2 percent after a 0.8 percent gain in July, according to the median estimate of 81 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The figures are also projected to show incomes rose 0.1 percent, the smallest increase in nine months.