Keeping Track ...

Americans earn more

americans' personal income surged 0.6 percent to $7.137 trillion in January after an unexpected 0.1 percent drop in December, says the Commerce Department. Consumer spending rose, but slowly - up 0.3 percent after a 0.7 percent jump in December. Some of that spending is going to auto sales, which jumped 12.6 percent last month.

Meanwhile, unemployment inched up to 4.4 percent last month from 4.3 percent in January. Friday's labor report - indicating a continued strong economy with low inflation sent the stock market to a record high.