Consumers are spending more than the average in these states
While higher prices are leading consumers overall to scale back, shoppers in some states are spending faster than the rate of inflation.
According to a new report from payment processor SensaPay, shoppers in Massachusetts, California, and Washington D.C. are leading the pack when it comes to consumer spending. SensaPay’s analysis compared how much each state's residents spent over the past year against local price changes as of March 2026.
By finding the gap between spending growth and cost growth, the study identified which states are actually purchasing more goods rather than just paying higher bills for the same products and services.
The top five list of places where consumers are spending the most includes the following:
1. Massachusetts
Massachusetts residents are spending at the highest rates in America right now, according to SensaPay, as consumers there increased their purchases by 6.1% over the past year, while costs in the state only went up 0.8% in the same period. Massachusetts locals now spend nearly $70,000 per year on personal needs.
2. California
California comes second, with residents spending 4.8% more than the inflation rate. Total spending here jumped 6.1% over the year, while local prices went up just 1.3%. SensaPay says that means Californians are buying significantly more goods and services, not just paying higher bills. With per-person spending at nearly $65,000, the state now ranks among the top five for household budgets. Prices in the Golden State are 11% above the U.S. average, but that isn’t stopping consumers.
3. District of Columbia
Washington D.C. takes third place as its residents continue spending despite rising prices. People in the nation’s capital buy 6.6% more compared to the past year, beating out both Massachusetts and California in raw growth. But prices also climbed 1.9% locally, cutting into some of that increased spending. D.C. residents set aside over $92,000 on personal needs every year, which is $23,000 more than Massachusetts and nearly double the national average.
[READ MORE: Survey: Price, value driving grocery spending changes]
4. Vermont
Vermont ranks fourth, with residents spending 3.9% more than inflation would suggest. Consumer spending here jumped 5.2% this year, but prices rose only 1.3%, so most of that growth represents real purchases. The average Vermont resident now spends about $59,000 per year, placing them between California and Delaware. With local prices just 0.5% above the national average, consumers in the state are simply buying more products by choice.
5. Connecticut
Connecticut completes the top five states where consumer spending is growing at a higher rate than inflation. Residents here are buying 5.8% more products this year, even as prices climbed 1.9%, creating a 3.9% gap that ties Vermont. At this rate, the annual per-person spending among locals now reaches $65,000, making Connecticut consumers some of America's biggest spenders alongside those in California and Washington D.C. Prices in the state are 7% more than the national average.
"Recent trade tariffs have already pushed up prices on everyday goods by 3% to 5%, depending on what you're buying,” noted a financial advisor from SensaPay. “But the real test is still ahead. Rising energy and transportation costs are about to put more pressure on household budgets, affecting everything from groceries to electronics. So even the biggest spenders might have to pull back a little once those effects really kick in."
