Updated May 2026 · Bureau of Economic Analysis
What Is Personal Consumption Expenditures (Monthly Change)?
Personal Consumption Expenditures (Monthly Change) is currently at 0.5%, down -0.5% from the previous reading of 1.0%. The series is published by Bureau of Economic Analysis on a monthly schedule, last updated 2026-04-01.
Current Reading
How to Read This Reading
0.5% sits in the middle of the recent historical range for Consumer Spending, consistent with ongoing trend conditions rather than a clear inflection point.
Consumer Spending has moved lower from 1.0% to 0.5% since the prior monthly release — a sharp move of -0.5%. Pair this with the related indicators below before drawing strong conclusions; isolated moves on a single release often look larger than they really are.
Consumer indicators describe the financial health and spending behavior of U.S. households. Consumer spending is roughly 68% of U.S. GDP, so household behavior moves the macro picture more than any other single category.
What Consumer Spending Measures
Personal Consumption Expenditures measures the monthly change in household spending on goods and services. Consumer spending represents approximately 70% of U.S. GDP, making it the single largest driver of economic activity.
Consumer spending rebounded 0.4% in March after a rare decline in February, suggesting the consumer remains resilient despite falling confidence. For executives, the discrepancy between weak confidence surveys and solid spending data is a puzzle worth watching — consumers may be expressing anxiety while still spending. If spending follows confidence lower, it would be a significant drag on GDP growth.
Methodology
The BEA measures personal consumption expenditures using retail sales data, service provider revenue, and other economic indicators. It covers three categories: durable goods (cars, appliances), nondurable goods (food, clothing), and services (healthcare, housing, financial). Data is adjusted for inflation and seasonal patterns.
ExecBolt does not estimate, model, or interpolate this value — every reading on this page is pulled directly from Bureau of Economic Analysis (series PCE). For full sourcing standards and citation guidance, see the methodology page; for plain-language background on the underlying concept, see the learn library; for live cross-checks against related series, see the indicators dashboard.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Personal Consumption Expenditures (Monthly Change) |
| Source | Bureau of Economic Analysis |
| Series ID | PCE |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Category | consumer |
| Last updated | 2026-04-01 |
| Next release | 2026-04-25 |
Related Indicators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Personal Consumption Expenditures (Monthly Change) right now?
Personal Consumption Expenditures (Monthly Change) is currently at 0.5%, down -0.5% from the previous reading of 1.0%. The series is published by Bureau of Economic Analysis on a monthly schedule, last updated 2026-04-01.
How is Consumer Spending calculated?
The BEA measures personal consumption expenditures using retail sales data, service provider revenue, and other economic indicators. It covers three categories: durable goods (cars, appliances), nondurable goods (food, clothing), and services (healthcare, housing, financial). Data is adjusted for inflation and seasonal patterns.
What does Consumer Spending mean for business?
Consumer spending rebounded 0.4% in March after a rare decline in February, suggesting the consumer remains resilient despite falling confidence. For executives, the discrepancy between weak confidence surveys and solid spending data is a puzzle worth watching — consumers may be expressing anxiety while still spending. If spending follows confidence lower, it would be a significant drag on GDP growth.
How often is Consumer Spending updated?
Consumer Spending is published on a monthly schedule by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The most recent reading is dated 2026-04-01; the next scheduled release is 2026-04-25.
Where can I verify this number?
The primary source for Personal Consumption Expenditures (Monthly Change) is Bureau of Economic Analysis at https://www.bea.gov/data/consumer-spending/main (series PCE). The historical series is also archived at U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and available via API for programmatic verification.