State of the US Consumer: March 2026
Financial sentiment strengthens while spending confidence stalls
Article
•
3-min read
•
03 April 2026
•
Deloitte Consumer Industry Center
Key insights about US consumers from Deloitte’s ConsumerSignals
- Financial well-being neared a six-year high in February 2026, driven by several underlying index metrics including improved confidence in savings, cash on hand, and the ability to cover monthly payments (figure 1).
- For the fourth consecutive month, fewer respondents expect grocery costs to increase, suggesting ongoing acclimation to a higher-price environment. Gas-price expectations nudged upward slightly month over month, though they remain well below year-ago levels (note that the data pertains to levels recorded till Feb. 25, 2026) (figure 2).
- Improved financial sentiment did not translate to higher spending intent in March. Discretionary spending intent pulled back well below the 2021 baseline. Nondiscretionary intent softened month over month (figure 3).
- While discretionary categories saw the largest drop in spending intentions, essentials like groceries softened as well, suggesting the pullback extends beyond discretionary goods. Housing and utilities prices remain elevated, potentially adding pressure on household budgets and amplifying cutbacks elsewhere (figure 4).
BY
Stephen Rogers
United States
Visit the Deloitte Consumer Industry Center
Access more insights for the automotive, consumer products, food, retail, wholesale and distribution, airlines and hospitality, and transportation sectors.