Real personal consumption in the United States flatlined in September 2026, registering 0.0% month-over-month growth, according to data updated on 29 October 2026. This marks a sharp loss of momentum from August 2026, when real personal consumption rose by 0.5% compared with July.
The latest figures indicate that, on an inflation-adjusted basis, consumer spending did not grow at all from August to September. By contrast, the previous reading showed a clear month-over-month expansion, highlighting a notable cooling in demand within just one month.
Because these data are measured on a month-over-month basis, the “actual” September reading reflects the change from August, while the “previous” August figure reflects the change from July. The abrupt shift from 0.5% growth to zero suggests that, at least for September, real consumer activity has paused after a period of firmer spending.
