The report said personal income climbed by 0.6 percent in February, matching the increase seen in January. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said personal spending edged up by 0.2 percent for the second straight month, matching expectations. A reading on inflation said to be preferred by the Federal Reserve showed the annual rate of core consumer price growth ticked up to 1.8 percent in February from an upwardly revised 1.7 percent in January.