Dec 22, 2016 2 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers slowed the growth in their spending in November and income growth was flat, two worrisome signs at the start of the holiday shopping season.

Consumer spending rose 0.2 percent in November, the weakest showing since a 0.1 percent rise in August, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. Spending had posted healthy gains of 0.7 percent in September and 0.4 percent in October.

Incomes were unchanged in November after gains of 0.5 percent in October and 0.4 percent in September.

Consumers are expected to restrain their spending in the fourth quarter, which will drag overall economic growth. So far, spending in the holiday shopping season has not been as strong as last year. That has prompted some stores to offer better deals and incentives such as free shipping.

The weakness in income growth reflected a 0.1 percent decline in the most important component, wages and salaries. That drop followed two months of strong wage increases.

The personal saving rate dipped to 5.5 percent of after-tax income in November, the lowest level since a saving rage of 5.3 percent in March 2015.

Inflation, as measured by a gauge tied to spending, climbed 1.4 percent compared to a year ago. Excluding food and energy, prices were up 1.6 percent from a year ago. Both readings are below the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target for annual price increases, allowing the central bank to continue its gradual pace of boosting interest rates to make sure inflation remains under control.

The Fed boosted a key rate by a quarter-point last week, only the second increase in a year, and projected a possible three rate increases for 2017.

So far this holiday season, retailers have pared down their inventories and offered more exclusive merchandise in a bid to avoid having to offer bigger discounts in coming weeks. But so far, shoppers have shown a willingness to wait.