By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Personal income outpaced consumer spending in April, the Commerce Department said Friday. Personal incomes rose a seasonally adjusted 0.4% in April for the second straight month. The gain was in line with economists forecasts. Real after-tax incomes rose 0.5% in March, the largest increase since May 2009. Economists say higher income will help make the recovery sustainable. Consumer spending was flat in April. This was weaker than forecast by economists surveyed by MarketWatch. With incomes running faster than spending, the personal savings rate rose to 3.6% of disposable income from 3.1% in March. It was the highest savings rate since January. Inflation was tame. Core inflation rose 1.2% in the past year, the slowest rate since last September.
