Paris, 06 August 2026 Reference period: 1st Quarter 2026
Real household income growth in the OECD area slows to 0.2% in Q1 2026, down from 0.6% in Q4 2025 Real household income per capita in the OECD increased by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2026, a slowdown from 0.6% growth in Q4 2025. Meanwhile, real GDP per capita grew by 0.3%, a slight pickup from 0.2% in Q4 2025. GDP growth focuses on the change in aggregate economic activity, whereas household income growth reflects the change in income earned by households, i.e., the income available for spending or saving. Among the 21 countries with available data, 13 recorded growth in real household income per capita, and 8 recorded a contraction. Among G7 economies, real household income per capita increased by 0.2% in Q1 2026, reflecting varied outcomes across countries. In Italy, real household income per capita took a turn following a 0.9% contraction in Q4 2025 and grew by 0.8% in Q1 2026. The rebound was driven by increases in remuneration of employees 1 associated with a slight decline in the unemployment rate (from 5.7% to 5.4% in Q1 2026), which offset lower social benefits. Real GDP per capita growth remained stable at 0.3%. In Canada, Germany and the United States, real household income per capita grew by 0.2%, up from 0.0%, 0.1% and -0.2%, respectively, in Q4 2025. By contrast, real household income per capita contracted in the United Kingdom by 0.8% following a 1.1% increase in the previous quarter. This contraction reflected an increased burden from taxes on income and wealth 2, partly due to a reduction in a tax-free allowance for capital gains, alongside a decrease in net social benefits 3 and higher inflation. At the same time, real GDP per capita in the United Kingdom increased by 0.6% after two quarters with no growth. Real household income per capita also contracted in France, although slightly, falling by 0.1% after a 0.3% increase in Q4 2025. Among other OECD countries, the largest increases in real household income per capita were recorded in Hungary and Chile. In Hungary, a 6.3% increase in remuneration of employees drove real household income per capita growth, up from 1.7% in Q4 2025 to 6.0% in Q1 2026. This exceeded the 0.9% growth in real GDP per capita. Remuneration of employees and self-employed, alongside increases in net property income drove real household income per capita growth in Chile 4, which increased by 4.8% in Q1 2026, after zero growth in Q4 2025. By contrast, the largest decreases in Q1 2026 were recorded in Greece and Austria, where real household income per capita was eroded by reductions in net property income and social benefits, leading to contractions by 3.6% and 2.8%, respectively.
1
Known as ‘compensation of employees’ in the national accounts.
2
Known as ‘current taxes on income and wealth’ in the national accounts.
3
Known as ‘social benefits other than social transfers in kind’ in the national accounts.
4
As reported by the Central Bank of Chile.
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Figure 1 – Quarterly real household income per capita and real GDP per capita, G7 economies and OECD Q1 2026, percentage change on the previous quarter, seasonally adjusted data
Source: OECD Household Dashboard database (2026)
Notes:
1. Estimates are not available for Japan. 2. The source database shows estimates for all OECD countries for which data are available at the time of publication.
Figure 2 – Real household income per capita, OECD and OECD countries Percentage change on the previous quarter
Source: OECD Household Dashboard database (2026)
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Notes:
1. The source database shows estimates for all OECD countries for which data are available at the time of publication.
Table 1 – Quarterly real household income per capita Percentage change on the previous quarter, seasonally adjusted data 2024
2025
2026
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
OECD
1.0
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.6
0.2
G7
0.8
0.6
0.1
0.1
0.3
0.3
0.1
0.0
0.2
Canada
-0.2
1.0
1.2
0.0
-0.2
-0.2
-0.1
0.0
0.2
France
0.7
0.4
0.7
-0.1
-1.0
-0.1
-0.3
0.3
-0.1
Germany
1.1
0.2
0.6
-0.3
-0.2
0.4
0.4
0.1
0.2
Italy
0.2
0.3
0.5
-0.7
0.2
1.0
0.5
-0.9
0.8
Japan
0.1
3.6
-2.6
-1.4
0.9
..
..
..
..
United Kingdom
1.4
0.1
1.6
1.4
-0.6
-0.7
-0.7
1.1
-0.8
United States
0.8
0.3
0.1
0.4
0.5
0.3
0.1
-0.2
0.2
Source: OECD Household Dashboard database (2026)
Notes: 1. ..: Data not yet available. 2. The source database shows estimates for all OECD countries for which data are available at the time of publication.
Table 2 – Quarterly real GDP per capita Percentage change on the previous quarter, seasonally adjusted data 2024
2025
2026
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
OECD
0.3
0.3
0.5
0.3
0.2
0.4
0.5
0.2
0.3
G7
0.1
0.4
0.5
0.3
0.1
0.5
0.5
0.1
0.4
Canada
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.5
-0.3
0.4
-0.1
0.2
France
0.2
0.2
0.3
-0.1
0.1
0.2
0.4
0.2
-0.2
Germany
0.2
-0.2
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.5
Italy
0.2
0.2
0.0
0.1
0.4
0.0
0.2
0.3
0.3
Japan
-0.2
0.0
0.8
0.6
0.6
0.3
-0.5
0.4
0.6
United Kingdom
0.5
0.3
0.1
0.4
0.5
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.6
United States
0.0
0.6
0.6
0.3
-0.3
0.8
1.0
0.0
0.5
Source: OECD Quarterly National Accounts database (2026) Notes: 1. The source database shows estimates for all OECD countries for which data are available at the time of publication.
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Data shown in this release was last updated on the 30th of July 2026. Methodological information: OECD growth and economic well-being: Methodological Notes for economic growth and well-being News release Access Data: Interested in how households are doing? Visit our interactive Households’ economic well-being dashboard. OECD database: Household dashboard OECD database: Non-financial quarterly sector accounts OECD database: Quarterly National Accounts Contacts: For further information, contact the OECD's Media Relations Division on (33) 1 45 24 97 00 or e-mail news.contact@oecd.org; for further information on data contact OECD’s Statistics and Data
Directorate:
stat.contact@oecd.org. Next release: 16 November 2026
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