Americans’ personal spending fell 2% in October.

According to Commerce Department records, the decline in spending was the biggest drop in 27 years of record-keeping, as consumers put away their pocketbooks after an auto-buying spree. But at the same time, Americans’ incomes rose by a moderate 0.4%, the best showing in six months, Commerce said. The gain was helped along by special factors, including bonuses paid to auto workers. The combination of a steep plunge in spending and a pickup in income growth helped boost Americans’ savings rate slightly from a record low in September.