Although consumer spending has increased during the past four quarters, helped by substantial government transfer payments, the pace of spending growth by households was less than the overall pace of GDP growth, because households were increasing their rate of saving. Indeed, household saving rose from 2% of after-tax incomes in 2007 to about 6% in recent months.
Même si leur consommation a augmenté durant les 12 derniers mois, soutenue en cela par des subventions gouvernementales, la croissance de leurs dépenses est restée inférieure à celle du PIB car les Américains ont épargné davantage – leur taux d'épargne passant de 2% de leur revenu net en 2007 à 6% au cours des derniers mois.