U.S. Consumer Spending Rose in December by Most in Three Months

U.S. consumer purchases climbed in December by the most in three months as incomes picked up, signaling a strong hand-off into 2017.

The 0.5 percent advance in consumption, which accounts for about 70 percent of the economy, followed a 0.2 percent advance in the prior month, a Commerce Department report showed Monday. The December increase matched the Bloomberg median forecast. Incomes rose 0.3 percent, less than projected.