Personal income increased $131.1 billion (0.6 percent) in January, according to estimates released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (tables 3 and 5). Disposable personal income (DPI) increased $387.4 billion (2.0 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $312.5 billion (1.8 percent).

The PCE price index increased 0.6 percent in January. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index also increased 0.6 percent (table 9). Real DPI increased 1.4 percent and Real PCE increased 1.1 percent; goods increased 2.2 percent and services increased 0.6 percent (tables 5 and 7).

The increase in current-dollar personal income in January was led by an increase in compensation (table 3), reflecting private wages and salaries in both services-producing industries and goods-producing industries. Government social benefits decreased in January, reflecting a decrease in “other” benefits that was partly offset by an increase in Social Security. The decrease in “other” benefits primarily reflected the expiration of the extended child tax credit (as authorized by the American Rescue Plan) as well as a decline in one-time refundable tax credits issued by states. The increase in Social Security primarily reflected an 8.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment.

The $312.5 billion increase in current-dollar PCE in January reflected increases of $162.2 billion in spending for goods and $150.2 billion in spending for services (table 3). Within goods, the increase was widespread and led by motor vehicles and parts as well as "other" nondurable goods (led by pharmaceuticals). Within services, the largest contributor to the increase was spending for food services. Detailed information on monthly PCE spending can be found on Table 2.3.5U.

Personal outlays increased $326.8 billion in January (table 3). Personal saving was $918.8 billion and the personal saving rate—personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income—was 4.7 percent (table 1).

Prices

From the preceding month, the PCE price index for January increased 0.6 percent (table 9). Prices for goods and services both increased 0.6 percent as well. Food prices increased 0.4 percent and energy prices increased 2.0 percent. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index also increased 0.6 percent. Detailed monthly PCE price indexes can be found on Table 2.4.4U.

From the same month one year ago, the PCE price index for January increased 5.4 percent (table 11). Prices for goods increased 4.7 percent and prices for services increased 5.7 percent. Food prices increased 11.1 percent and energy prices increased 9.6 percent. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index increased 4.7 percent from one year ago.

Real PCE

In January, real PCE increased 1.1 percent, reflecting increases of 2.2 percent in spending for goods and 0.6 percent in spending for services (table 7). Within goods, increases in motor vehicles and parts as well as recreational goods were partly offset by a decrease in gasoline. Within services, an increase in food services and accommodations was partly offset by a decrease in housing and utilities (notably, utilities). Detailed information on monthly real PCE spending can be found on Table 2.4.6U.

Updates to Personal Income and Outlays

Estimates have been updated for July through December. For July through September, estimates for compensation, personal taxes, and contributions for government social insurance reflect the incorporation of updated third-quarter wage and salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program. Revised and previously published changes from the preceding month for current-dollar personal income, and for current-dollar and chained (2012) dollar DPI and PCE, are provided below for November and December.

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Next release: March 31, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
Personal Income and Outlays, February 2023