Consumer spending levels increased at the fastest pace in eight months this January. Not only consumers bought big ticket items like cars and houses but they also ramped up purchases of a range of goods that include other discretionary products. Rise in wages, decline in the jobless rate, cheap gasoline price and winter thaw helped spending levels to move north.

Given the loosening of purse strings, investing in funds from the consumer discretionary sector may prove to be profitable as a major part of consumer expenditures go to this sector. What is more encouraging, income levels rose in January for the tenth straight month. This shows that consumers are in a position to spend more in the coming months.

Consumer Expenditure Climbs in January

The Commerce Department on Feb 26 reported that personal spending increased 0.5% in January. The rise exceeded the consensus estimate of a rise by 0.3%.

Moreover, a price index of consumer spending level went up in January. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, in the 12 months through January, advanced 1.3%, the highest increase since Oct 2014. The core-PCE index that excludes food and energy prices also rose 1.7% in the 12 months through January, the largest increase since Jul 2014.

Telltale Signs of Consumption Pickup

Retail sales are off to a good start this year, indicating strength in consumer spending. The Commerce Department said on Friday that sales at retail stores rose 0.2% in January. Consumers mostly bought big ticket items while online store sales also moved north. The so-called core retail sales figure that excludes automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services also increased 0.6% in January following a decline of 0.3% in December.

Car sales too spiked in January. At a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (“SAAR”), car sales increased to 17.55 million units in Jan 2016 from 17.32 million units in Dec 2015, the highest SAAR for any January since 2006. Moreover, existing home sales for January hit the highest level since last July. Existing home sales increased 0.4% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 5.47 million.

Rise in Wages, Low Fuel Price Boost Spending

Higher wages and steady hiring helped consumers to step up their purchases in January. Average hourly wage growth increased to 2.5% in January compared with year-ago levels. Wages grew in January at the best pace in about six years. Wage growth picked up momentum after remaining almost flat for several years following the recession. Moreover, the U.S. unemployment rate was 4.9% in January, the lowest since Feb 2008. Many analysts believe that it is close to “full employment”.

Cheap gasoline is also powering Americans’ ability to lift spending levels. Until recently, gasoline prices had hit a 12-year low across the Midwest. The Federal government had lowered its national average gasoline price forecast for this year by 5 cents to $1.98 a gallon. Separately, a return to normal winter temperatures also boosted spending.

5 Consumer Discretionary Funds to Buy

Banking on these encouraging trends witnessed in January, it is expected that consumer spending levels will improve further in the coming months. Additionally, households’ purchase on a range of goods not only increased in January, their incomes rose too. According to the Commerce Department, personal income gained 0.5%, more than the consensus estimate of a 0.4% increase. More income generally translates into more expenditure.

Moreover, U.S. consumer sentiment has already started showing signs of recovery in February. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s final consumer sentiment reading for this month came in at 91.7, which was higher than the preliminary reading of 90.7.

Given the healthy pattern of consumer spending, it will be wise to invest in funds linked to the consumer discretionary or cyclical sector. More money in consumers’ pocket will eventually increase spending on discretionary items. The consumer discretionary sector includes companies that sell nonessential goods and services. This sector includes companies involved in retail, automobiles, media, consumer services, consumer durables and leisure products.

Here we have selected five such consumer discretionary or cyclical funds that boast a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy), have positive 3-year and 5-year annualized returns, have minimum initial investment within $5000 and carry a low expense ratio.

Fidelity Select Consumer Discretionary Portfolio (FSCPX - MF report) seeks growth of capital. This fund invests a large portion of its assets in securities of companies involved in the manufacture and distribution of consumer discretionary products and services.

FSCPX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 14.3% and 12.9%, respectively. Annual expense ratio of 0.79% is lower than the category average of 1.41%. FSCPX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1.

Putnam Global Consumer A (PGCOX - MF report) seeks growth of capital. This non-diversified fund not only invests a major portion of its assets in companies in the consumer staples space but also invests in discretionary products and services industries.

PGCOX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 10.6% and 9.3%, respectively. Annual expense ratio of 1.26% is lower than the category average of 1.43%. This fund has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1.

Fidelity Select Retailing Portfolio (FSRPX - MF report) invests the major portion of its assets in securities of firms involved in merchandising finished goods and services to consumers.

FSRPX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 20.1% and 18.4%, respectively. Annual expense ratio of 0.81% is lower than the category average of 1.41%. This fund has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2.

Fidelity Select Automotive Portfolio (FSAVX - MF report) seeks capital appreciation. The fund invests a large portion of its assets in companies involved in the manufacture or sale of automobiles, trucks, specialty vehicles, parts, tires and related services.

FSAVX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 7.9% and 2.7%, respectively. Annual expense ratio of 0.85% is lower than the category average of 1.41%. This fund has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2.

Fidelity Select Multimedia (FBMPX - MF report) seeks capital appreciation. The fund invests a major portion of its assets in companies engaged in the production, sale and distribution of goods or services used in the broadcast and media industries.

FBMPX’s 3-year and 5-year annualized returns are 11.2% and 12.4%, respectively. Annual expense ratio of 0.81% is lower than the category average of 1.41%. This fund has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2.