US consumer spending slid for an unprecedented sixth straight month in December, feeding the already painful recession as households opted to save rather than buy. The 1 per cent drop in consumer spending, the economy's key driver, means little help in sight for struggling retailers, homebuilders and automakers. The Institute for Supply Management's benchmark factory activity index rose to 35.6 in January from 32.9 in December; however, this may not yet be the beginning of a recovery.

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