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$5-plus gas prices are starting to hammer low-income consumers: By the numbers
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$5-plus gas prices are starting to hammer low-income consumers: By the numbers

Yahoo Finance · May 13, 2026, 1:25 PM

Key takeaways

  • By the numbers: The surge in gas prices has meant rapidly deteriorating spending power for lower-income consumers, Citi analyst Jon Tower warned in a note on Wednesday.
  • Tower’s data shows aggregate purchasing power (netting wages and job growth against inflation) dipped negative for all sub-$50,000 (annual income) consumers in April.
  • “Growth in spending power is slowing across the board,” warned Tower.

By the numbers: The surge in gas prices has meant rapidly deteriorating spending power for lower-income consumers, Citi analyst Jon Tower warned in a note on Wednesday.

Tower’s data shows aggregate purchasing power (netting wages and job growth against inflation) dipped negative for all sub-$50,000 (annual income) consumers in April. Compared to last year, middle-income consumers ($50,000-$70,000) are paying over $90 per month more for essentials, and more than $75 of that increase has happened in the past two months.

“Growth in spending power is slowing across the board,” warned Tower.

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