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U.S. Personal Savings Rate Falls to 2.6% in April, Lowest Since June 2022

U.S. Personal Savings Rate Falls to 2.6% in April, Lowest Since June 2022

The reading declined by 0.6 percentage points from March, marking a third straight monthly drop and one of the weakest savings levels since the 2008 financial crisis.

Fact Check
The BEA's official Personal Income and Outlays release for April 2026 directly confirms the personal saving rate at 2.6% of DPI. The Joint Economic Committee report independently confirms the 0.6 percentage point decline. The Kobeissi Letter post and CNBC coverage corroborate that this is the lowest level since June 2022 and the third consecutive monthly decline. The claim's framing of being 'one of the weakest savings levels since the 2008 financial crisis' is supported by Kobeissi's characterization as 'second lowest since April 2008.'
Summary

The U.S. personal savings rate fell 0.6 percentage points in April to 2.6%, according to the provided data. That was the third consecutive monthly decline, bringing the cumulative drop over the three-month stretch to 1.7 percentage points. The April figure was the lowest since June 2022 and the second-lowest reading since April 2008, indicating that households were saving a smaller share of disposable income. In financial markets, a weaker savings rate can matter because it may signal tighter consumer balance sheets and reduced buffers against inflation or economic shocks, although the source does not provide further causes or policy implications.

Terms & Concepts
  • Personal savings rate: The share of disposable personal income that households save rather than spend during a given period.
  • Disposable income: Income available to households after taxes, which can be spent or saved.