Consumer Spending Gains Lift Fourth-Quarter Growth: Economy

Consumer spending rose in November by the most in five months as discounts lured early holiday shoppers, giving the U.S. economy a boost at the end of 2013.

Purchases increased 0.5 percent after a 0.4 percent gain in October that was larger than previously estimated, the Commerce Department reported today in Washington. Other data showed consumer sentiment climbed in December to a five-month high.