U.S. consumer spending, trade data signal sluggish growth

U.S. consumer spending barely rose in February and inflation retreated, suggesting the Federal Reserve could remain cautious about raising interest rates this year even as the labor market rapidly tightens. Monday's report from the Commerce Department also showed consumer spending in January was not as strong as previously reported. "It speaks to the weakening in domestic economic momentum at the start of this year, further reinforcing the Fed's cautious monetary policy bias," said Millan Mulrai