5 economic signals suggest U.S. consumers are feeling the strain
U.S. consumers are beginning to feel financial strain as inflation rises and consumer spending slows. Key indicators show that household incomes are lagging behind inflation, leading to decreased purchasing power. Additionally, credit card delinquencies are at a 15-year high, and the personal savings rate has dropped to a 22-year low, raising concerns about future economic stability.
- ▪Consumer spending drives about 70% of U.S. economic activity, but signs of strain are emerging as inflation rises.
- ▪Household income has decreased by more than 1% over the past year after adjusting for inflation, marking a significant decline since the Great Recession.
- ▪Credit card delinquencies have reached their highest level since 2011, indicating that more consumers are struggling to meet financial obligations.
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MoneyWatch 5 economic signals suggest U.S. consumers are feeling the strain .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Aimee Picchi Aimee Picchi Associate Managing Editor, MoneyWatch Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports. Read Full Bio Aimee Picchi Updated on: May 29, 2026 / 5:47 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google For years, American consumers have defied predictions and kept the economy moving forward with their spending even amid a raft of financial pressures.
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