Record-long govt shutdown clouds outlook for consumer-driven US economy

Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of US economic activity, and the 4% jump in household spending on goods last year was a major reason the economy probably grew by a healthy 3% in 2018

After tax cuts, rising incomes and buoyant stock markets set off a consumer boom in 2018, signs are emerging that the main engine of US economic growth could sputter, and a record-long government shutdown further muddies the waters.

Federal Reserve officials and many economists have long counted on continued robust consumer spending to keep the economy chugging along, despite headwinds from recent financial markets turbulence, trade conflicts and weakening global growth.

Now they fear the consumer boom could be on the cusp of a reversal.

The warning signs span the income spectrum - from the well-heeled possibly cutting back after