Consumer spending flat

Friday, March 28, 2003 | 9:44 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Consumer spending was flat in February -- for the second straight month -- as war uncertainties, job worries and higher energy prices made people more tightfisted, the Commerce Department reported today.

The report showing that consumers held a tight grip on spending in February was a better showing than economists had expected. They were predicting consumers would trim spending by 0.2 percent.

And, January's flat reading on spending -- based on revised figures released Friday -- was an improvement from the government's initial estimate that consumers cut spending by a 0.1 percent during that month.

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