US consumer spending tumbled 0.5 percent in September for the first time in five months, with the end of the "cash for clunkers" car rebate program while incomes remained flat, raising concerns about teh fragility of the recovery in the absence of continued government help. The savings rate was 3.3 percent compared with 16.5% in the Eurozone, in June 2009.

Personal consumption expenditures dipped $47.2 billion or 0.5 percent, following a revised 1.4 percent jump in August

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that personal income was unchanged in September, after increasing 0.1 percent in August. Wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, decreased 0.2 percent in September after increasing 0.2 percent in August.

Real disposable personal income, income adjusted for inflation and taxes, fell 0.1 percent in September, reflecting higher PCE (personal consumption  expenditure) prices, as was the case in August.

Real consumer spending, spending adjusted for price changes - - which were negative - - fell 0.6 percent in September, after increasing 1.0 percent in August. In August, the spike in spending reflected the federal CARS program (“cash for clunkers”).

PCE prices increased 0.1 percent in September. Energy prices rose, but were offset by lower food prices. So excluding food and energy, prices also rose 0.1 percent.

Personal saving as a percent of disposable income was 3.3 percent in September.