Primerica's HBI™ Shows Middle-Income Purchasing Power Stable Despite Inflation Pressures — Primerica, Inc.

Event summary

Primerica's Household Budget Index™ (HBI™) stood at 101.1% in March, down 0.3% from February but up 1.5% year-over-year.
Middle-income family inflation rose to 3.9% in February 2026 compared to February 2025, higher than the general CPI of 3.3%.
Costs for necessity items (food, utilities, gas, auto insurance, health care) increased by 4.3% year-over-year.
HBI™ has remained above 100% for nine consecutive months, indicating relative stability in household budgets.

The big picture

Primerica's HBI™ provides a targeted view of middle-income household financial health, an often-overlooked segment in broader economic metrics. As middle-income families drive over 55% of U.S. consumer spending, their purchasing power serves as a critical barometer for real-time economic trends. The index's stability despite inflationary pressures suggests resilience but also highlights ongoing financial challenges.

What we're watching

Inflation Trends: Whether the recent stabilization in middle-income purchasing power can be sustained as broader inflation trends remain volatile.
Wage Growth: How wage growth for middle-income families will compare to rising costs of necessities in the coming months.
Economic Indicators: The pace at which other economic indicators, such as CPI and employment data, align with or diverge from Primerica's HBI™ findings.