TROY, Mich.—Are consumers in the United States learning to persevere through turbulent economic times? Given the latest data from J.D. Power, that certainly seems to be the case.
The overall financial health of consumers in the United States improved, as the percentage of financially healthy consumers hit its highest point in 13-months. What’s more, fewer say they are having a hard time keeping up with the price of goods—even as costs remain high—and fewer are changing their summer travel plans due to cost, J.D. Power said.
After a discouraging turn in May, the number of consumers who are financially healthy rose to 37% in June.
“This reflects a 13-month high,” J.D. Power noted.
The positive development also translated to consumers’ dealings with inflation. Nearly two-thirds (66%) of those surveyed said the cost of goods is increasing faster than their income, which reflects a monthly decline of 4 percentage points. The improvement was spread throughout all levels of consumer financial health, with consumers in the overextended category seeing the biggest monthly improvement. Currently, 54% of those classified as overextended say the price of things they buy is rising faster than their income, down from 58% in May of 2025.
“While consumers currently suggest their financial health may be improving, data in the months ahead will indicate if this is the start of a deeper trend or just something temporary,” J.D. Power said.
Travel Liftoff?
Consumers are also still planning summer travel. More than three-fourths (76%) of consumers say they will travel this summer, up from 74% a year ago.
“That’s noteworthy, because it shows that consumers were still making plans, even as financial health fluctuated throughout the year, hinting that consumers are simply pushing through in the face of economic uncertainty. Younger and healthier consumers are more likely to travel,” J.D. Power said.
In fact, 28% of consumers made no changes to their summer travel plans, down from 32% a year ago.
“Consumers under 40 are more likely to make changes to their itinerary as opposed to respondents over 40, who are committed to making travel work under almost all circumstances. Overall, just 10% say they are not going to travel when they usually would have taken a trip,” J.D. Power concluded.