US Household Spending Outpaces Inflation for Fifth Straight Month

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Survey of Consumer Expectations, households in the United States reported spending 4.7% more in August 2026 than they did a year earlier.

This increase in household spending exceeded the 3.4% rise in consumer prices recorded over the same period by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The gap between spending growth and inflation is notable, as it indicates that consumers are not pulling back in the face of higher prices.