WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans' self-reported daily spending averaged $77 in August, up from $73 in July, and the best August spending level recorded since 2008. It is also the highest average monthly spending since December 2008.

The results are based on Gallup Daily tracking from Aug. 1-31. Each night, Gallup asks Americans to report how much they spent the prior day apart from normal household bills or the purchase of a car or home.

Lower- and Middle-Income Consumer Spending Ticks Up

Spending among American households with annual incomes of $90,000 or less averaged $63 in August, up from $59 in July -- the highest level since December 2011. Upper-income spending, which has been on a generally upward trajectory so far in 2012, was unchanged in August, averaging $135 as it did in July.

That pattern is atypical; usually when spending increases in a given month it is driven by upper-income consumers rather than those with lower and middle incomes.

Although lower- and middle-income consumer spending increased in August, the yearly average for 2012 thus far -- $59 -- reveals that these groups' spending was still on par with 2011, when it averaged $58 for the year. Upper-income spending, however, is tracking ahead of 2011 levels, averaging $127 so far in 2012 compared with $121 for all of 2011.

Bottom Line

U.S. consumer spending climbed to its highest level is nearly four years in August 2012 at the same time that job creation appears to be improving. Gallup's Job Creation Index rose to +19 in August, up from +17 in July, and the payroll company Automatic Data Processing Inc., reported job gains last month that beat the consensus expectations. Additionally, Gallup's unadjusted unemployment rate was down in August, although the adjusted rate rose. Still, there may be other factors involved, including back-to-school spending.

The higher spending in 2012 to date is still coming more from higher-income Americans than from middle-class and lower-income households. Lower- and middle-income Americans did increase their spending slightly in August, but not enough to bring their average for the year above the levels seen in 2011. Further job market improvement could encourage this group to start spending more, but it will take a lot to get them to spend anywhere near what they did in early 2008, before the financial crisis.

Gallup.com reports results from these indexes in daily, weekly, and monthly averages and in Gallup.com stories. Complete trend data are always available to view and export in the following charts:

Daily: Employment, Economic Confidence, Job Creation, Consumer Spending

Weekly: Employment, Economic Confidence, Job Creation, Consumer Spending

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