Consumer spending rose an estimated 3.7% over the past year, per Morgan Stanley. It’s expected to rise another 2.9% in 2026. This is less growth than in previous years — likely due to tariffs, economic uncertainty and a cooling labor market — but it still indicates higher overall spending going forward.
One way to cut down on costs is to start buying key items from lower-cost retailers. GOBankingRates pulled the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify select purchases U.S. households make and how much they’re spending. From there, we determined how much money could be saved by switching to more affordable retailers.
