Primerica Household Budget Index™: Middle-Income Purchasing Power Held Steady in January

The Primerica Household Budget Index™ is a measure of the purchasing power of middle-income households in the United States. It takes into account various factors such as income, spending habits, and inflation to determine the average purchasing power for this group.

In January 2024, the index stood at 101.6%, which means that on average, middle-income households were able to purchase goods and services that cost $101.60 for every dollar of income they earned. This is relatively unchanged compared to December 2023 when the index was at 101.7%.

A year ago, in January 2023, the index stood at 95.6%, which means that on average, middle-income households were able to purchase goods and services that cost $95.60 for every dollar of income they earned. This shows that the purchasing power of middle-income households has remained relatively stable over the past year.

It's important to note that while the Primerica Household Budget Index™ provides a useful measure of purchasing power, it does not take into account factors such as debt, savings, or investments. Additionally, the index is based on a sample of middle-income households and may not be representative of the entire population.