American spenders bounced back this spring.
After a sluggish winter, U.S. consumer spending rose 1% in April compared to March, the best gain since August 2009, according to Commerce Department data released Tuesday. The news comes just weeks after retail sales rose the most in over a year.
The latest spending figures confirm an ongoing trend: Americans are buying big ticket items like refrigerators, roofs, cars and televisions. It’s a healthy sign that people are feeling confident enough to open up their wallets because consumer spending makes up the majority of U.S. economic activity.
