US consumer spending rose faster than incomes last month as Americans shrugged off fears about unemployment in favour of shopping, lifting hopes that consumers will be able to help propel the economic recovery.
Separately on Wednesday, the US government released a feast of figures ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Other data showed that new jobless claims fell to the lowest level in more than a year last week, while businesses cut back on orders for durable goods, new home sales jumped in October and consumer sentiment fell back.

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