WASHINGTON, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - US consumer spending rose 0.6 percent in August as Americans shrugged off credit and housing market turmoil, government data showed Friday.

The Commerce Department report was better than the 0.4 percent rise expected by Wall Street analysts and showed that a key driver of US economic activity remained strong.

Personal income however rose a more modest 0.3 percent, slightly below expectations of a 0.4 percent gain.

BEIJING, Sept 2, 2007 (AFP) - China said Sunday it will begin reporting its armed forces budget to the United Nations and rejoin a global register of conventional arms amid foreign pressure for greater military transparency.

China said the moves were meant to show the world its commitment to military transparency, at a time when its massive armed forces expansion is causing alarm bells to ring in Asia and further afield.

WASHINGTON, Aug 31, 2007 (AFP) - US consumer spending grew 0.4 percent in July, government data showed Friday, indicating a key component of economic activity held firm as the third quarter began.

The Commerce Department report also showed personal incomes rose 0.5 percent in July.

The figures were ahead of Wall Street expectations for a 0.3 percent increase in each index.

The personal consumption expenditure index, a measure of inflation, was up 0.1 percent, the same as the core index which excludes food and energy prices.

TAIPEI, Aug 22, 2007 (AFP) - Taiwan's cabinet agreed Wednesday to hike military spending by nearly 15 percent in next year's budget in an apparent signal of its resolve against rival China.

Under a draft budget, which has to be confirmed by parliament, the defence ministry is setting aside 345.9 billion Taiwan dollars (10.5 billion US), up 44.6 billion Taiwan dollars, the cabinet said in a statement.

The rise in spending is mainly aimed at financing procurement of military equipment, including US-made P-3C submarine-hunting aircraft.

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2007 (AFP) - US consumer spending, a crucial driver of the American economy, cooled in June in line with most analysts' forecasts amid a nagging housing market slump, a government survey showed Tuesday.

The monthly report by the Commerce Department revealed that consumer spending increased 0.1 percent last month from May, after it had risen a revised 0.6 percent in May.

Most economists had expected spending to moderate as the US economy is vying to regain momentum amid the housing downturn and as consumers are buffeted by high gasoline prices.

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2007 (AFP) - US consumer spending, a crucial driver of the American economy, cooled in June in line with most analysts' forecasts while income held steady, according to a government survey Tuesday.

The monthly report by the Commerce Department revealed that consumer spending increased 0.1 percent last month from May while income rose 0.4 percent. Most analysts had anticipated a 0.1 percent gain in spending and a 0.5 percent rise in income.