The State of the American Consumer

August 26, 2024 | Evan Frazier, CFA, CAIA, Senior Research Analyst, Lauren Smith, Senior Performance Analyst

The U.S. economy has long been driven by consumers, with consumption constituting more than two-thirds of GDP growth: As the consumer went, so went the economy. More recently, robust consumer spending has fueled positive domestic GDP growth and helped buoy the prices of financial assets. That said, there are now signs that these trends may be shifting. For instance, delinquency rates across various consumer loan types have ticked up, as have debt burdens as a share of overall household income. Additionally, personal savings rates in the U.S. have now dropped below long-term averages. From a big picture perspective, what do these trends mean for the overall health and growth of the economy?

This newsletter examines long-term tailwinds and emerging headwinds for the American consumer and expectations for both consumers and overall GDP growth going forward.

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