Primerica HBI: Middle-Income Purchasing Power Edges Up in June as Gas Prices Drop

NewsData.io · United States · Jul 31, 2026

Primerica's Household Budget Index rose to 100.1% in June, up 1.8% from May, driven by falling gas prices and modest declines in health care and auto insurance costs. Earned income for middle-income households grew 4.0% year-over-year, while necessity costs climbed 4.1% over the same period. The index tracks purchasing power for Americans earning $30,000–$130,000, a segment representing over 55% of the U.S. population and a core client base for many staffing firms. Tight margins between wage growth and cost inflation signal continued financial pressure on the workforce segment most reliant on staffing-placed jobs.