Personal savings rates since 1959

Click to enlarge: Personal savings rates since 1959. Calculated Risk

 

Today the Commerce Department reports that for the second straight month Americans are saving more than 4 percent of their disposable personal income.

The personal savings rate -- disposable personal income less personal outlays -- was $450.7 billion in February, or 4.2 percent. That's down slightly from January, when Americans saved $478.1 billion or 4.4 percent.

Still, the current savings rate is a far cry from just three years ago, when it hit minus 0.5 percent -- its lowest level since 1933. At that time, Americans were, on average, spending all their after-tax earnings plus some money stashed away or on credit.

categories: News

11:30 - March 27, 2009