Americans spent slightly more last month at retail businesses and restaurants after higher taxes cut their paychecks. The small increase suggests consumer spending may be weak in the January-March quarter, which could stymie economic growth. Retail sales ticked up 0.1% in January from December, the Commerce Department says in a report released this morning. That follows a 0.5% increase in December and is the smallest in three months. Sales fell at auto dealerships, clothing stores and furniture stores. They rose at home-improvement stores, gas stations and online retailers. So-called core retail sales—which exclude autos, building materials, and gas stations—ticked up 0.2%. Economists pay close attention to core sales because they strip out the most volatile categories. The retail sales report is the government’s first look at consumer spending, which drives 70% of economic activity. Nearly all working Americans are taking home less pay this year. Congress and the White House allowed a temporary 2-percentage-point cut in Social Security taxes to expire last month. That means a person earning $50,000 a year will have about $1,000 less to spend in 2013. A household with two high-paid workers will have up to $4,500 less. Economists were mildly encouraged that spending rose at all after the tax increases took effect. Many expect that spending may pick up later this year as hiring improves.
Today’s poll question: Have you cut back on spending since the first of the year because your paycheck is smaller?
