SCE HOUSEHOLD SPENDING SURVEY - The median reported year-over-year increase in monthly nominal household spending decreased slightly to 4.8 percent in April 2026 from 4.9 percent in December 2025; the reading was 4.5 percent in April 2025.
- The shares of respondents reporting making a large purchase over the past four months on furniture, home repairs and vehicles increased in April, while the shares reporting spending on vacations, homes, home appliances, and electronics decreased.
- Median expected monthly overall household spending growth over the next twelve months remained unchanged at 3.4 percent in April.
- Median year-ahead expected spending growth on housing and medical care decreased slightly to 3.1 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively. While expected spending growth on medical care retreated from its recent spike, it still remains well above the series’ post-December 2014 average of 3.6 percent. Median year-ahead expected spending growth increased for food to 5.6 percent, for clothing to 2.9 percent, for utilities to 4.8 percent, for transportation to 5.4 percent, and for recreation to 2.8 percent.
About:
The SCE Household Spending Survey is fielded every four months as a rotating module of the Survey of Consumer Expectations (SCE). The data are updated online as results come in.
