The U.S. Travel Insights Dashboard

SEPTEMBER 2026

Travel spending and overnight stays increased in September, even as domestic air travel and arrivals from overseas declined. Travel spending reached $121.6 billion, up 9.6% from a year earlier before adjusting for inflation and 0.8% after . U.S. Travel’s Travel Price Index, which measures travel-related prices, rose 8.7% from a year earlier. Strong business and leisure demand, along with favorable holiday timing, helped support travel during the month.

Demand for hotel rooms rose 5.8%, its strongest growth since February 2023. Demand for short-term rentals rose 8.0%. Demand for group stays at luxury and other high-end hotels increased for a fourth straight month, rising 3.0%; but remained 4.0% below September 2019 levels.

Air passenger volumes fell 2.0%, and visits to national parks fell 5.9%; both measures declined for a fifth straight month. Arrivals from overseas fell 4.3% and remained 22.4% below September 2019 levels, leaving them with the largest remaining gap in recovery. The travel trade deficit widened to $4.7 billion in August, the latest month available. Spending by visitors from abroad fell to $13.5 billion, while U.S. travelers spent $18.2 billion abroad.

Rising prices continue to put pressure on household budgets. Prices across the economy rose 3.7% in September from a year earlier, compared with 3.4% in August. Consumer sentiment—how people feel about the economy—also remained near record lows.