Consumers Trust Their Jobs as Savings Run Thin

This finding comes from the September 2026 edition of the PYMNTS Consumer Expectations Index, “Consumers Hold the Line as Their Financial Cushion Shrinks.” The report found that overall consumer confidence fell 0.7 points to 54.1, its second consecutive monthly decline. Yet the pullback was concentrated in views of the economy, buying conditions and job mobility. Measures of personal financial resilience remained essentially steady, while consumers continued to report strong confidence in their current job security. The result is a consumer who remains relatively stable today while having less room to absorb a financial disruption.

When it comes to payments, that distinction offers useful context. Consumers appear to be navigating a financial environment in which access to available money can take on greater importance as savings provide less of a buffer.

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Key Findings:

• 8% of consumers said their savings would cover three months or less if their income stopped. That share increased 2.4 percentage points from August and 4.0 percentage points from April. At the same time, the share reporting more than a year of savings fell to 15.1%, a 12-month low.
• 4 was the September reading for personal job security, which asks consumers how safe they feel in their current roles. The measure barely changed during the month. Perceived safety from layoffs also improved, rising 1.3 points to 71.9.
• 9 was the reading for job mobility, down 2.2 points. The measure asks whether consumers believe they could find a new job that pays what they need. It remained below the report’s neutral 50 mark, with every household income tier tracked by PYMNTS declining during the month.

The contrast between job security and job mobility provides a useful window into the consumer outlook. People remain confident about the positions they hold, while feeling less confident about their ability to make a successful move should circumstances change. That distinction is particularly relevant as households manage higher costs with savings that may not stretch as far as they once did.

The report also found that 85% of consumers said their essential expenses had increased over the past year. Those higher costs coincided with a 2.2-point decline in the Macroeconomic and Buying Climate subindex, which measures perceptions of the economy and the timing of major purchases. Personal Financial Resilience, which includes savings, debt and day-to-day money management, held essentially flat at 58.3.

The findings also varied across generations. Baby boomers and seniors’ confidence in their ability to save rose 3.6 points. Generation Z moved in the opposite direction, with that measure falling 1.3 points. Overall sentiment declined most sharply among Generation Z and Generation X.

Taken together, the report illuminates a consumer sector that continues to manage its finances while confronting a narrower margin for unexpected expenses. For payment providers, that environment puts greater emphasis on the movement and availability of money within consumers’ broader financial lives. Payments are a critical part of that conversation, as they can make personal finances faster and more transparent at a time when customers’ view of their personal financial situation matters more than ever.

At PYMNTS Intelligence, we work with businesses to uncover insights that fuel intelligent, data-driven discussions on changing customer expectations, a more connected economy and the strategic shifts necessary to achieve outcomes. With rigorous research methodologies and unwavering commitment to objective quality, we offer trusted data to grow your business. As our partner, you’ll have access to our diverse team of PhDs, researchers, data analysts, number crunchers, subject matter veterans and editorial experts.