Americans earned less, bought more in November

The overall income of Americans grew only 0.4 percent in November because of reduced factory payrolls, but automobile bargains sparked a strong 1.2 percent jump in spending, the government reported Monday.

The Commerce Department said recession-struck factory payrolls declined for the ninth time in the previous 12 months. Government wages climbed and unemployment benefit payments also were up, but not quite as much as in October.