Quick Glance: Real DPI and PCE Per Capita, December 2015
Includes data revisions for previous months
Importance: The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis defines disposable personal income as "personal
income less personal current taxes. It is income available … for spending or saving." Personal consumption
expenditures (PCE) is disposable income that is spent. DPI not spent is savings. Changes in PCE signal
changes in personal income and consumer confidence.
Real disposable personal income per capita
Period
Current month
Previous month
Previous 3 month
Previous 12 month
12-month average
10-year high*
10-year high 6-month EMA
Month
December 2015
November 2015
September 2015
December 2014
January - Dec.
December 2012
December 2015
Real DPI
Per Capita
$42,287
$42,149
$42,074
$41,353
$41,834
$42,443
$42,287
Current month's
% difference
na
0.3%
0.5%
2.3%
1.1%
-0.4%
0.0%
* Spike in income due to end-of-year payouts in 2012 to avoid higher 2013 tax rates.
Real Disposable Personal Income Per Capita
(chained to current $)
Recession
Real DPI Per Capita
6-Month Exponential Moving Average
$44,000
Dec. 2012 income payouts to
avoid higher 2013 tax rates
$42,000
$40,000
$38,000
$36,000
$34,000
$32,000
Jan-99 Apr-00 Jul-01 Oct-02 Jan-04 Apr-05 Jul-06 Oct-07 Jan-09 Apr-10 Jul-11 Oct-12 Jan-14 Apr-15
Real DPI Per Capita and Real PCE Per Capita
(chained to current $)
Real DPI Per Capita
Real PCE Per Capita
$44,000
$42,000
$40,000
$38,000
$36,000
$34,000
$32,000
$30,000
Jan-15
Feb-15
Mar-15
Provided courtesy of Econ P.I.
Apr-15
May-15
Jun-15
Jul-15
Aug-15
Sep-15
Oct-15
Nov-15
Dec-15