Personal disposable income rises 5.2% in Q1

Personal saving bounced back by 6.7%, reversing a Q4 contraction.

Personal disposable income (PDI) rose 5.2% year-on-year in nominal terms in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1), accelerating from 1% growth in Q4 2025.

The increase was mainly driven by higher employee compensation, according to the Department of Statistics.

Personal saving grew by 6.7% in Q1, reversing a 5.1% contraction in the previous quarter.

The department said the increase came as nominal PDI grew faster than nominal private consumption expenditure. The personal saving rate rose to 39.2% from 36.4%.

PDI refers to income received by households and non-profit institutions serving households, after accounting for net investment income, net current transfers, and personal income tax paid.

Personal saving refers to the difference between PDI and private consumption expenditure on goods and services, the agency added.

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