Other economic data presented a more mixed picture, with industrial production continuing to slow sharply while consumer spending increased and inflation eased.

其它经济数据呈现出的是更为复杂的局面：在工业生产持续大幅放缓的同时，消费支出增加，通胀得到缓和。

youdao

Yet at the time there was great anxiety about the change. The fear was that the increased burden of consumer debt would make even a small rise in interest rates bear down heavily on spending.

但是当时对这一改变也有着巨大的忧虑，主要是担心消费者增加的债务负担，可能会导致利率的再次小幅上升将会沉重打击消费的支出。

youdao

There was one bright spot in the otherwise gloomy economic data that started this month: Consumer credit spending increased for just the second time since August 2008.

本月的宏观经济数据虽然依然不景气，但其中也有一个亮点：消费信贷支出有所增长。这是2008年8月以来的第二次。

youdao

But consumer spending increased just two percent.

VOA: special.2010.01.30

Consumer spending has increased eight months in a row.

VOA: special.2011.04.08

For all of 2011, consumer spending increased 2.2 percent, compared with 2 percent in 2010.

FORBES: Glacier-like -- but not frozen -- U.S. economy

Consumer spending increased marginally, according to the Fed, even though most of that was attributed to a pickup in the auto sector, as supply chain disruptions stemming from Japan eased.

FORBES: Beige Book Describes Zombie Economy As Markets Await Obama's Jobs Speech

The Commerce Department report showed that consumer retail spending increased 0.4% in March, just under the 0.5% rise that was predicted following a surprise 1.1% gain in February.

FORBES: Retail Sales Rose In March As Inflation Fears Emerge For Food, Gas Prices