American households are holding a relatively steady outlook on their finances even as many continue to stretch budgets, delay purchases, and lean on savings or credit, according to the latest EY-Parthenon Consumer Sentiment Survey.
The sixth wave of the study, released August 10, 2026, found that overall consumer mood stayed muted but largely unchanged from the previous month. Beneath that surface stability, however, household finances remain tight.
More than half of US adults—54 percent—said they put nothing aside in June. About one in five households spent more than they brought in and covered the gap with savings or borrowing.
That pattern suggests a sizable share of families are living without a meaningful cash buffer.
Mark Chambers, EY Americas Retail Sector Leader, described the picture as one of projected resilience that rests on deliberate adjustments.
Households, he said, are preserving a sense of stability by cutting back, postponing bigger purchases, and drawing on reserves or debt when income falls short.
Travel and entertainment remain common places to economize.
One in three consumers (32 percent) reported pulling back in those categories, including 22 percent who altered trip plans and 20 percent who canceled travel altogether.
Those figures track closely with similar cutbacks recorded in April around spring-break season, indicating that “stay-cation” habits have carried into summer.Financial pressure is not limited to lower-income groups.
Roughly 20 percent of all households could not cover monthly bills with current earnings; among higher-income households the share was about one-quarter.
Persistent sources of anxiety have also changed little over the past year.
Inflation, domestic politics, and geopolitical tensions continue to rank among the top stressors, even as headlines and some economic indicators have shifted.One modest bright spot appeared in transportation.
After gasoline prices eased in June, consumers expressed greater optimism that fuel costs would decline over the coming year, easing a concern that had peaked in April.
Discretionary categories still offer flexibility.
About 72 percent of respondents said they could further reduce spending on dining out, beauty and personal care, and apparel without a major impact on daily life.
That remaining room to cut continues to function as a pressure valve for household budgets.
Will Auchincloss, EY-Parthenon Americas Retail Sector Leader, noted that more than half of consumers saved nothing last month and one in five spent beyond their income.
For retailers, he added, demand has not disappeared but has become more selective, placing a premium on value, affordability, and clear product differentiation.
The survey gathered responses from 1,509 US consumers in June 2026 and covers personal financial confidence, spending and saving habits, category-level trends, shopping channels, and views on the broader economy.
It is conducted every two months.
Taken together, the research findings portray consumers who are neither collapsing nor thriving.
Sentiment has stabilized, yet many households are still making trade-offs to stay afloat. Retailers and policymakers watching these patterns will need to account for both the surface calm and the underlying strain that continues to shape everyday spending decisions.