US personal consumption expenditures rose by $190.8 billion, or 0.9%, in August 2026, beating expectations for a 0.8% increase and accelerating sharply from the 0.1% gain recorded in July.
Spending on goods climbed $114.1 billion, with the advance driven primarily by nondurable goods. Within that category, “other” nondurable goods increased by $24.7 billion, gasoline and other energy goods by $20.9 billion, and food and beverages by $11.6 billion. Outlays on durable goods also rose, gaining $48 billion.
Services spending increased by $76.7 billion, led by food services and accommodations (up $20.6 billion), other services (up $18.7 billion), and health care (up $15.1 billion). These gains were partially offset by a $10.3 billion decline in recreation services.
Personal income edged up 0.2% in August, while disposable personal income grew 0.3%. After adjusting for inflation, consumer spending advanced 0.6%, a marked pickup from the 0.1% increase seen in July.
