Personal spending rises 0.8 percent

(Oct. 29, 2012) -- "The increase in spending in September leaves the level of real consumer spending in the month 1.3 percent above its third-quarter 2012 average, thereby pointing to respectable momentum entering the fourth quarter of 2012," said Janzen. "Along with early indications that auto sales remained solid in October, our expectation is that consumer spending in the fourth quarter of 2012 will improve modestly."