The U.S. federal government reported Thursday that spending on gasoline and other energy products contributed most to a rise in consumer spending. The U.S. Commerce Department reported personal income improved $49.5 billion, or 0.3 percent, in April. Disposable personal income increased $60.9 billion, or 4 percent, but spending — known as personal consumption expenditures — increased $79.8 billion, or 0.6 percent. “The $42.8 billion increase in real PCE in April reflected an increase of $15.4 billion in spending for goods and a $27.5 billion increase in spending for services,” the department’s report read. “Within goods, spending for gasoline and other energy goods was a leading contributor to the increase.” Retail price group GasBuddy listed a national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline at $2.98, while motor club AAA reported $2.96 per gallon for Thursday. Those compare with a national average price for […]