Personal spending in the US increased at a record high 8.2 percent month-over-month in May of 2020, following a downwardly revised 12.6 percent fall in April which was the biggest drop on record due to the coronavirus pandemic. Figures came below market forecasts of a 9 percent rise. The data was impacted by the response to the spread of COVID-19. Federal economic recovery payments continued but were at a lower level than in April, and government “stay-at-home” orders were partially lifted in May. Real personal spending went up 8.1 percent. Within goods, spending on motor vehicles and parts as well as recreational goods and vehicles were the leading contributors to the increase. Within services, the largest contributors were spending for health care as well as food services and accommodations.

Personal Spending in the United States averaged 0.52 percent from 1959 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 8.20 percent in May of 2020 and a record low of -12.60 percent in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Personal Spending - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Personal Spending - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2020.

Personal Spending in the United States is expected to be -2.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Personal Spending in the United States to stand at 0.50 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the United States Personal Spending is projected to trend around 0.70 percent in 2021 and 1.00 percent in 2022, according to our econometric models.

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United States Personal Spending

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
8.20 -12.60 8.20 -12.60 1959 - 2020 percent Monthly
Current Prices, SA


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2020-03-27 12:30 PM Feb 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.3%
2020-04-30 12:30 PM Mar -7.5% 0.2% -5% -6.3%
2020-05-29 12:30 PM Apr -13.6% -6.9% -12.6% -11.4%
2020-06-26 12:30 PM May 8.2% -12.6% 9% 9.5%
2020-07-31 12:30 PM Jun 8.2% -3%
2020-08-28 12:30 PM Jul
2020-10-01 12:30 PM Aug
2020-10-30 12:30 PM Sep -1.7%
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
US Personal Spending Rises Less than Expected
Personal spending in the US increased at a record high 8.2 percent month-over-month in May of 2020, following a downwardly revised 12.6 percent fall in April which was the biggest drop on record due to the coronavirus pandemic. Figures came below market forecasts of a 9 percent rise. The data was impacted by the response to the spread of COVID-19. Federal economic recovery payments continued but were at a lower level than in April, and government “stay-at-home” orders were partially lifted in May. Real personal spending went up 8.1 percent. Within goods, spending on motor vehicles and parts as well as recreational goods and vehicles were the leading contributors to the increase. Within services, the largest contributors were spending for health care as well as food services and accommodations.
2020-06-26
US Personal Spending Falls at Record Pace
Personal spending in the US plunged 13.6 percent month-over-month in April of 2020, following a downwardly revised 6.9 percent fall in March and worse than market forecasts of a 12.6 percent drop. It is the biggest decline on record as COVID-19 lockdown measures led to stores closures and restrain Americans from shopping. Real spending decreased 13.2 percent, led by a decrease in food and beverages and spending for health care as well as food services and accommodations.
2020-05-29
US Personal Spending Falls at Record Pace
Personal spending in the US dropped 7.5 percent month-over-month in March 2020, after rising 0.2 percent in the previous month and compared with market expectations of a 5 percent fall. It was the largest decline in personal spending on record, as the coronavirus crisis hit households' demand. Real personal spending went down 7.3 percent, following a 0.1 percent gain in February, mainly due to a decline in spending on services (-9.5 percent vs 0.3 percent in February) and on goods (-2.2 percent vs -0.5 percent). Within services, the leading contributor to the decrease was spending on health care, including physician, dental, and paramedical services. Other contributors to the decrease in services were spending on food services and accommodations as well as recreation services. Within goods, the leading contributor to the decline was spending on motor vehicles and parts.
2020-04-30
US Personal Spending Rises 0.2% and Matches Forecats
Personal spending in the US rose 0.2 percent month-over-month in February of 2020, the same as in the previous month and in line with market expectations. Real personal spending increased 0.1 percent, also the same as in January, boosted by a 0.2 percent increase in spending for services (vs a flat reading in January) that was partly offset by a 0.2 percent decrease in spending for goods. Within services, the leading contributor to the increase was spending on electricity and gas. Within goods, the leading contributors to the decrease were spending on motor vehicles and parts as well as recreational goods and vehicles.
2020-03-27

United States Personal Spending
Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) is the primary measure of consumer spending on goods and services in the U.S. economy. 1 It accounts for about two-thirds of domestic final spending, and thus it is the primary engine that drives future economic growth. PCE shows how much of the income earned by households is being spent on current consumption as opposed to how much is being saved for future consumption. PCE also provides a comprehensive measure of types of goods and services that are purchased by households. Thus, for example, it shows the portion of spending that is accounted for by discretionary items, such as motor vehicles, or the adjustments that consumers make to changes in prices, such as a sharp run-up in gasoline prices.