Name:   GoneFishin - Subject:   The Rest of The Story Date:   10/31/2014 12:44:01 PM

(Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending fell for the first time in eight months in September, but a rise in consumer sentiment to more than a seven-year high this month indicated economic growth would remain on solid ground.

The economic picture also received a boost from other data on Friday showing factory activity in the Midwest accelerated sharply in October, while wages in the third quarter recorded their largest increase in more than six years. Strong wage growth has been the missing piece of the recovery puzzle.

"The fundamentals of the economy remain very strong, the conditions are in place for continued above-trend growth," said Gus Faucher, a senior economist at PNC Financial Services in Pittsburgh.

Watch the Right take credit after they take control of the Senate.