Real personal consumption in the United States grew by 0.1% month-over-month in January 2026, matching the modest 0.1% increase recorded in December 2025. The latest reading, updated on 13 March 2026, indicates that real consumer spending has effectively plateaued at a subdued pace over the turn of the year.
On a month-over-month basis, the figure shows no acceleration or deceleration in real consumption growth, as the "actual" January change is directly comparable to December’s rate. With back-to-back 0.1% gains, the data suggest that, after adjusting for inflation, U.S. households have been increasing spending only marginally from one month to the next.
The stability in the indicator underscores a period of steady but tepid momentum in consumer demand, with January’s result offering continuity rather than a new direction relative to the prior month’s performance.
