US consumer spending, income jump in Feb US consumers earned more and spent more in February, helped by a stronger job market that has offset some of the drag from higher taxes. The Commerce Department says consumer spending rose 0.7 per cent in February compared with January. It was the biggest gain in five months and followed a 0.4 per cent rise in January, which was revised up from an initial 0.2 per cent estimate. Income rose 1.1 per cent last month. That followed January's 3.7 per cent plunge and December's 2.6 per cent surge. The huge swings reflected a rush to pay bonuses and dividends in December before taxes went up on high-income earners. Sales in the US rose last month despite an increase in Social Security taxes, which took effect in January.