US inflation stays low in August as consumer spending slows

US inflation picked up slightly in August but consumer spending and income growth cooled, suggesting economic growth overall remained tepid, Commerce Department data showed Friday. The fresh data will supply little added support for the Federal Reserve's plan to tighten monetary policy with higher interest rates before the end of the year, but should not weaken the argument either, according to analysts. Consumer spending was flat for the month after rising an average of 0.4 percent each month o