U.S. consumers spent less than expected last month as commodity prices rose, Bloomberg reported.

Purchases rose 0.4 percent after a revised 0.5 percent gain the prior month that was smaller than previously estimated, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The numbers signaled that faster income gains are necessary to bolster the economy amid fear of rising inflation, Bloomberg said.

“When you account for higher food and energy prices, there’s barely anything left for consumers to purchase,” said Mark Vinter, a senior economist at Charlotte, N.C.-based Wells Fargo Securities LLC. “We need to see job growth pick up and we need to see commodity prices continue to cool.”

The economy expanded at a 1.8 percent annual rate in the first three months of 2011, following a 3.1 percent gain in the fourth quarter, according to the Commerce Department. Consumer purchases rose at a 2.2 percent annual rate in the first quarter, which was less than forecast and followed a 4 percent gain the previous quarter.

Consumer spending, which is also being quelled by the rising cost of fuel, accounts for about two-thirds of the U.S. economy.