U.S. consumer spending rises

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Consumer spending rose 0.5 percent in June, pushed by a climb of 0.4 percent in prices, the U.S. Commerce Department said Friday.

Spending adjusted for inflation rose 0.1 percent, the same as in May, the department said.

Personal incomes climbed 0.3 percent, or by $45.4 billion. Spending rose by $59.4 billion.

Core prices, which excludes energy and food items, rose by 0.2 percent from May and 1.2 percent from June 2012, a sign that inflation is relatively calm.

It is the third consecutive month core prices rose 1.2 percent.