Indicators

US Consumer Spending Stalled in September, Inflation in Line

Pedestrians near shops in Union Station in Washington in September.

Photographer: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg

US consumer spending stalled in September, suggesting Americans were already stretched going into the government shutdown in the face of stubborn inflation.

Consumer spending, adjusted for changes in prices, was little changed in September, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data out Friday. That followed a downwardly revised 0.2% advance in August. The report was scheduled for release on Oct. 31 but was delayed by the government shutdown.