Primerica Household Budget Index™: Uncertainty Continues to Increase for Middle-Income Families Over Rising Cost of Necessities and Leveling of Income Growth
Primerica's Household Budget Index™ (HBI™) reveals continued financial pressure on middle-income families in February, with purchasing power falling to 99.4%, down 0.3% month-over-month but up 0.4% year-over-year. For households earning around $60,000 annually, necessity goods cost approximately $110 more in February compared to January.
Key factors impacting middle-income budgets include:
- Auto insurance costs rose 0.9% in February and over 11% in 12 months
- Gasoline prices increased 1.3% month-over-month
- Overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) reached 2.8%
- Adjusted CPI for middle-income households shows 3.6% year-over-year increase
- Necessity items (food, utilities, gas, auto insurance, health care) saw a 4.2% year-over-year increase
Il Household Budget Index™ (HBI™) di Primerica rivela una continua pressione finanziaria sulle famiglie a reddito medio a febbraio, con il potere d'acquisto che scende a 99,4%, in calo dello 0,3% rispetto al mese precedente ma in aumento dello 0,4% rispetto all'anno scorso. Per le famiglie che guadagnano circa $60.000 all'anno, i beni di prima necessità costano circa $110 in più a febbraio rispetto a gennaio.
I fattori chiave che influenzano i bilanci delle famiglie a reddito medio includono:
- I costi dell'assicurazione auto sono aumentati dello 0,9% a febbraio e oltre l'11% negli ultimi 12 mesi
- I prezzi della benzina sono aumentati dell'1,3% mese su mese
- L'indice dei prezzi al consumo (CPI) complessivo ha raggiunto il 2,8%
- Il CPI corretto per le famiglie a reddito medio mostra un aumento del 3,6% su base annua
- Gli articoli di prima necessità (cibo, utenze, benzina, assicurazione auto, assistenza sanitaria) hanno visto un aumento del 4,2% rispetto all'anno scorso
El Household Budget Index™ (HBI™) de Primerica revela una presión financiera continua sobre las familias de ingresos medios en febrero, con el poder adquisitivo cayendo a 99.4%, una disminución del 0.3% mes a mes, pero un aumento del 0.4% en comparación con el año anterior. Para los hogares que ganan alrededor de $60,000 anuales, los bienes de necesidad costaron aproximadamente $110 más en febrero en comparación con enero.
Los factores clave que impactan los presupuestos de ingresos medios incluyen:
- Los costos del seguro de auto aumentaron un 0.9% en febrero y más del 11% en 12 meses
- Los precios de la gasolina aumentaron un 1.3% mes a mes
- El índice de precios al consumidor (CPI) general alcanzó el 2.8%
- El CPI ajustado para los hogares de ingresos medios muestra un aumento del 3.6% en comparación con el año anterior
- Los artículos de necesidad (alimentos, servicios públicos, gasolina, seguro de auto, atención médica) vieron un aumento del 4.2% en comparación con el año anterior
프라이머리카의 가계 예산 지수™ (HBI™)는 2월 중간 소득 가정에 대한 지속적인 재정 압박을 드러내며, 구매력이 99.4%로 떨어졌고, 이는 전월 대비 0.3% 감소했지만, 전년 대비 0.4% 증가한 수치입니다. 연간 약 $60,000를 버는 가정의 경우, 필수품의 비용이 1월에 비해 2월에 약 $110 더 증가했습니다.
중간 소득 예산에 영향을 미치는 주요 요인은 다음과 같습니다:
- 자동차 보험 비용이 2월에 0.9% 증가했으며, 12개월 동안 11% 이상 증가했습니다.
- 휘발유 가격이 전월 대비 1.3% 상승했습니다.
- 전체 소비자 물가 지수(CPI)가 2.8%에 도달했습니다.
- 중간 소득 가정을 위한 조정된 CPI는 전년 대비 3.6% 증가를 보였습니다.
- 필수 품목(식료품, 공공요금, 휘발유, 자동차 보험, 의료비)은 전년 대비 4.2% 증가했습니다.
L'Indice de Budget Ménager™ (HBI™) de Primerica révèle une pression financière continue sur les familles à revenu moyen en février, avec un pouvoir d'achat tombant à 99,4%, en baisse de 0,3% par rapport au mois précédent mais en hausse de 0,4% par rapport à l'année précédente. Pour les ménages gagnant environ 60 000 $ par an, les biens de nécessité ont coûté environ 110 $ de plus en février par rapport à janvier.
Les facteurs clés qui impactent les budgets des ménages à revenu moyen incluent :
- Les coûts de l'assurance automobile ont augmenté de 0,9% en février et de plus de 11% en 12 mois
- Les prix de l'essence ont augmenté de 1,3% d'un mois sur l'autre
- L'indice des prix à la consommation (CPI) global a atteint 2,8%
- Le CPI ajusté pour les ménages à revenu moyen montre une augmentation de 3,6% par rapport à l'année précédente
- Les articles de nécessité (nourriture, services publics, essence, assurance automobile, soins de santé) ont connu une augmentation de 4,2% par rapport à l'année précédente
Der Household Budget Index™ (HBI™) von Primerica zeigt im Februar einen anhaltenden finanziellen Druck auf Familien mit mittlerem Einkommen, wobei die Kaufkraft auf 99,4% gefallen ist. Dies entspricht einem Rückgang von 0,3% im Vergleich zum Vormonat, jedoch einem Anstieg von 0,4% im Vergleich zum Vorjahr. Für Haushalte, die jährlich etwa 60.000 $ verdienen, lagen die Kosten für notwendige Güter im Februar etwa 110 $ höher als im Januar.
Wichtige Faktoren, die die Budgets von Haushalten mit mittlerem Einkommen beeinflussen, sind:
- Die Kosten für Auto-Versicherungen stiegen im Februar um 0,9% und um über 11% in 12 Monaten.
- Die Benzinpreise erhöhten sich um 1,3% im Vergleich zum Vormonat.
- Der gesamte Verbraucherpreisindex (CPI) erreichte 2,8%.
- Der angepasste CPI für Haushalte mit mittlerem Einkommen zeigt einen Anstieg von 3,6% im Jahresvergleich.
- Notwendige Artikel (Lebensmittel, Versorgungsunternehmen, Benzin, Auto-Versicherung, Gesundheitsversorgung) verzeichneten einen Anstieg von 4,2% im Vergleich zum Vorjahr.
- Purchasing power showed 0.4% improvement year-over-year
- Purchasing power declined 0.3% month-over-month to 99.4%
- Necessity goods cost increased by $110 in February vs January
- Auto insurance costs surged 11% over 12 months
- Gasoline prices reversed previous declining trend, rising 1.3%
- Middle-income households face higher inflation (4.2%) than general population (2.8%)

The latest Primerica Household Budget Index™ (HBI™), a monthly economic snapshot measuring the impact of inflation on middle-income households alongside their earned income, found the average purchasing power for necessities fell to
Purchasing power deteriorated in February as rising costs of auto insurance, gasoline and utilities continued to impact middle-income households’ budgets. Auto insurance continues to pressure middle-income families, rising
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) that measures inflation for a comprehensive basket of goods for all
Further narrowing the CPI to assess the impact of inflation on the cost of middle-income household necessity items used in the HBI™ (food, utilities, gas, auto insurance, and health care) the estimated adjusted CPI measure shows an increase of
For more information on the Primerica Household Budget Index™, visit www.householdbudgetindex.com.
About the Primerica Household Budget Index™ (HBI™)
The Primerica Household Budget Index™ (HBI™) is constructed monthly on behalf of Primerica by its chief economic consultant Amy Crews Cutts, PhD, CBE®. The index measures the purchasing power of middle-income families with household incomes from
The HBI™ uses January 2019 as its baseline, with the value set to
Periodically, prior HBI™ values may be modified due to revisions in the CPI series and Consumer Expenditure Survey releases by the
About Primerica, Inc.
Primerica, Inc., headquartered in
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325055264/en/
Gana Ahn
678-431-9266
Email: Gana.Ahn@primerica.com
Source: Primerica, Inc.