POLL: Are you spending?

Getty Images
Getty Images

Economists closely watching the slowly unfolding recovery of the U.S. economy were heartened by an uptick in consumer spending in February, even if it only rose 0.3 percent while personal income remained flat. And because income didn't rise, savings dropped as most Americans needed every bit of cash coming in the door to pay the bills.

The takeaway seems to be a hopeful sign that we're spending again since consumer spending rose for the fifth straight month, nudging the recovery forward. But economists agree this recovery, unlike past rebounds, will not be driven in a big way by consumer spending. Rather, job growth and small-business spending are being eyed as the true drivers of major, sustained recovery.

Still, we're curious.....