US consumer spending surged at the fastest rate in almost eight years in August, as government stimulus measures succeeded in jump-starting demand, but stubbornly high unemployment continues to pose a longer-term risk.

Personal consumption expenditures rose by 1.3 per cent, or $129.6bn, and were fuelled by growing purchases of durable goods, commerce department figures showed on Thursday. Much of this was driven by the popular “cash-for-clunkers” car rebate scheme which expired at the end of August.