The rise in spending reflected a 0.2 percent increase in spending on non-durable goods such as clothing and a 0.3 percent rise in spending on services such as utility payments and rent. The 3.9 percent third quarter increase in the gross domestic product, the economy's total output of goods and services, represented an upward revision from an initial estimate of 3.5 percent with much of the new-found strength coming from faster consumer spending. Economists believe spending will remain solid in the current October-December quarter thanks in part to solid gains in employment and falling gas prices, which give people more to spend elsewhere. On top of an improving job picture, the adverse impact of earlier government spending cuts and tax hikes will ease following five straight years of sub-par growth.