December Personal Income and Spending
Updated: 22-Jan-26 10:55 ET





Highlights
  • The Bureau of Economic Analysis released the Personal Income/Outlays report for November alongside the delayed report for October.
  • In November, Personal Income increased 0.3% month-over-month (Briefing.com consensus 0.4%) after a 0.1% increase in October (Briefing.com consensus 0.3%). Personal spending was up 0.5% in November (Briefing.com consensus 0.4%) after also increasing 0.5% in October (Briefing.com consensus 0.4%).
  • The PCE Price Index was up 0.2% month-over-month in October and November, as expected, while the core PCE Price Index was also up 0.2% for both months, which was also expected.
  • On a year-over-year basis, the PCE Price Index decelerated to 2.7% in October but edged back up to 2.8% in November. The Core PCE Price Index also decelerated to 2.7% in October and edged back up to 2.8% in November.
Key Factors
  • The PCE Price Index for Goods was up 0.2% in November after decreasing 0.1% in October. The Index was up 1.4% year-over-year in November and up 1.3% year-over-year in October.
  • The PCE Price Index for Services was up 0.2% in November after increasing 0.3% in October. The Index was up 3.4% year-over-year in November and up 3.3% year-over-year in October.
  • Wages and salaries increased 0.4% month-over-month in November after increasing 0.3% in October.
  • Rental income was up 0.3% month-over-month in November after increasing 0.2% in October.
  • Personal interest income was unchanged month-over-month in November and October. Personal dividend income was up 0.6% month-over-month in November after falling 0.6% month-over-month in October.
  • Real disposable income was up 0.1% month-over-month in November after decreasing 0.1% month-over-month in October.
  • Real personal spending was up 0.3% month-over-month in November and October.
  • The personal savings rate, as a percentage of disposable personal income, fell to 3.5% in November from 3.7% in October.
Big Picture
  • The key takeaway from the report is that the core PCE Price Index, which is the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, was at 2.8% in November, essentially unchanged from September. As a result, this report should not alter the Fed's outlook since the inflation picture remains largely unchanged.
Category NOV OCT SEP AUG JUL
Personal Income




Total Income 0.3% 0.1% 0.4% 0.4% 0.5%
Wage and Salary 0.4% 0.3% 0.4% 0.3% 0.6%
Disposable Income 0.3% 0.1% 0.3% 0.4% 0.4%
Savings Rate 3.5% 3.7% 4.0% 4.1% 4.3%
Personal Consumption




Total (Nominal) 0.5% 0.5% 0.4% 0.6% 0.7%
Total (Real, Chain $) 0.3% 0.3% 0.1% 0.3% 0.5%
Core PCE Deflator




Month/Month 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2%
Year/Year 2.8% 2.7% 2.8% 2.9% 2.9%
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