American incomes surge in January due to pandemic aid

WASHINGTON: An injection of pandemic aid filled Americans’ wallets last month, though spending rose modestly, according to government data released Friday, giving a boost to the economy as it claws its way back from recession.

A key inflation measure in the data showed prices also are starting to bounce back from the depths of the crisis, which could add to investor’s fears about rising borrowing costs amid the recovery.

The $900 billion Covid-19 stimulus package approved in late December sent $600 checks to nearly all US workers and extended extra unemployment payments for those who lost their jobs. As the checks started to roll in, personal incomes surged by 10 per cent -- the second biggest increase on record since the start of this data report began in 1959 -- the Commerce Department said.

“The increase in personal income in January was more than accounted for by an increase in government social benefits to persons as payments were made to individuals from federal COVID-19 pandemic response programs,” the report said. “Unemployment insurance also increased, reflecting an increase in pandemic unemployment compensation.”

Spending -- personal consumption expenditures (PCE) -- rose 2.4 per cent from December, rebounding after two months of declines to post a gain of $340.9 billion.

While the report said the increases “were widespread across all categories, led by recreational goods and vehicles,” spending on services, which includes travel, are 7.0 per cent below January 2020.

Economists said the data bode well for GDP growth in the first quarter and beyond as consumers will have savings to continue to make purchases, especially on services like travel and restaurants, especially as Congress moves towards approving President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion rescue package.