NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Consumer spending rose slightly in October while personal savings remained mired in negative territory, according to a government report issued Thursday.

Personal spending increased 0.2 percent in October, the Department of Commerce said, matching economists' estimates. The slight gain follows a rise of 0.5 percent in September.

Personal income increased 0.4 percent, slightly below the 0.5 percent gain economists had been expecting. Personal income had jumped 1.7 percent in September, reflecting payments made in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

A reading on prices for personal spending excluding food and energy, a closely watched inflation measure, edged higher 0.1 percent in the month, according to the report. That was slightly lower than the 0.2 percent gain in September.

Personal savings as a percentage of personal income came in at a negative 0.7 percent in October -- making it the fifth straight month savings were in negative territory.

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