Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Inflation has stopped Americans from buying vehicles of all kinds — but they're still splurging on travel and good times

Inflation has stopped Americans from buying vehicles of all kinds — but they're still splurging on travel and good times

Despite US inflation at a 41-year high, people are still spending on travel-related expenses like flights and hotels.

Even though inflation is at a four-decade high, Americans are still spending big on travel and experiences.

The Consumer Price Index rose 9.1% over the year ending in June per data published this week, higher than the 8.6% over the year ending in May. The 9.1% rate — the highest since November 1981 — is affecting people's spending behavior.

Although some people are modifying how they spend their money like looking for cheaper alternatives amid high inflation, people are handing over lots of money on certain goods and services. Spending on travel and transportation has shot up this year, but on the other hand, people aren't spending as much on vehicles, consumer spending data shows.

The following chart shows the percent change from January 2022 to May 2022 in Personal Consumption Expenditures from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The items and services in the chart are some of the things that have seen the largest percent increases in consumer spending during this period.


People are splurging on vacations and good times away from home despite higher prices, as travelers once again take part in "revenge travel." Expenditures on foreign travel were 68.4% higher in May than at the beginning of the year. Spending on air transportation is also almost 40% higher than in January. Additionally, people are spending more on accommodations as they buy hotel and motel rooms for their travel needs.

Monthly Personal Consumption Expenditures data is only available up until May. But with travel demand up as people vacationed for fourth of July and throughout the summer, it may be the case that travel continues to be a popular thing people dish out money on, even with the high costs consumers are facing.

Consumer spending for gas was also up in May from January, with a percent increase of 27.7% for gas and other motor fuel, mirroring skyrocketing gas prices over the last few months. However, Energy Information Administration and AAA data show gas prices have been coming down from their peak.

There are also goods and services that have seen personal spending decline from where they once were earlier in the year. As seen in the following chart, that includes various kinds of vehicles like motorcycles and new autos or light trucks.

People may not be willing to spend big on cars right now with monthly payments soaring. Data from Cox Automotive research shows the monthly payment for a car has reached a record high.


The above chart also highlights that spending is down from earlier this year for different kinds of repairs.

In general, people were spending more on services than goods in May — with spending on services rising $76.2 billion but falling $43.5 billion on goods from April according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Munich Airport Reopens After Second Drone Shutdown
Pro Europe and Anti-War Babiš Poised to Return to Power After Czech Parliamentary Vote
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced to Fifty Months in Prison Following Prostitution Conviction
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Trump Says Ukraine Can Fully Restore Borders with NATO Backing
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Germany Weighs Excluding France from Key European Fighter Jet Programme
Cyberattack Disrupts Check-in and Boarding Systems at Major European Airports
Björn Borg Breaks Silence: Memoir Reveals Addiction, Shame and Cancer Battle
When Extremism Hijacks Idealism: How the Baader-Meinhof Gang Emerged and Fell
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
Trump Orders $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas and Launches ‘Gold Card’ Immigration Pathway
France’s Looming Budget Crisis and Political Fracture Raise Fears of Becoming Europe’s “Sick Man”
Three Russian MiG-31 Jets Breach Estonian Airspace in ‘Unprecedentedly Brazen’ NATO Incident
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
×