American Express Cardholders Defy Trump Tariffs

American Express’ affluent cardmembers are showing few signs of curbing their spending, and younger customers drove growth in first-quarter transaction volumes, Chief Financial Officer Christophe Le Caillec told CNBC. Billed business on AmEx cards rose 6% in the period, or 7% when adjusted for the impact of leap year, the company reported Thursday, which shows that the bump in spending late last year continued into 2025, according to Le Caillec.

Spending Trends and Customer Behavior

Those trends have continued into April, the CFO said, despite sharp declines in stocks this month amid concerns that President Donald Trump’s tariff policies will cause a recession. The dynamic, which helped AmEx top expectations for first-quarter profit, shows that the company’s wealthier customer base may help to insulate it from concerns about tariffs and stubborn inflation. On the other end of the credit spectrum, Synchrony Financial, which offers store cards for dozens of popular retailers, has warned of a spending slowdown.

Customer Demographics and Spending

Growth at AmEx came from younger cardholders, with millennial and Gen Z members spending 14% more in the quarter. Gen X and Baby Boomer cardholders showed more caution, registering 5% and 1% increases, respectively. Le Caillec said it’s difficult to discern whether cardmembers were pulling forward purchases because of the looming tariffs, creating an artificial boost to purchase volumes, as JPMorgan executives said last week. But some small businesses may be doing so to build inventory because of concerns about the duties increasing costs, he added.

Airline Slump and Discretionary Spending

One category in particular gave Le Caillec confidence that the spending trends may be durable. “Restaurant spend is up 8%,” the CFO said. “This is the ultimate discretionary expense, it’s not something you can bring forward, and so it’s really a good indicator of the strength of our cardmember base and the confidence they have.” If there was a weak area besides the spending slowdown from older Americans, it was in airline transactions, according to the company’s earnings presentation. The category grew just 3%, or 4% when adjusted for leap year, after climbing 13% in the fourth quarter.

Guidance and Outlook

But while airlines, retailers and other corporations have pulled their earnings guidance on tariff uncertainty, AmEx was holding firm. It maintained its guidance for revenue growth of 8% to 10% and earnings of $15 to $15.50 per share this year, Le Caillec said. In the company’s presentation, though, it added a new caveat to its guidance: “Subject to the Macroeconomic Environment.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, American Express’ first-quarter performance indicates that the company’s affluent cardmembers are continuing to spend, driven by younger customers. The company’s wealthier customer base may help to insulate it from concerns about tariffs and inflation. However, the airline category showed a slowdown, and the company has added a caveat to its guidance due to the macroeconomic environment.

FAQs

Q: What was the growth in billed business on AmEx cards in the first quarter?
A: Billed business on AmEx cards rose 6% in the period, or 7% when adjusted for the impact of leap year.
Q: Which customer demographic drove growth in the first quarter?
A: Younger cardholders, with millennial and Gen Z members spending 14% more in the quarter.
Q: What was the growth in restaurant spend?
A: Restaurant spend was up 8%.
Q: Did AmEx change its guidance for the year?
A: No, AmEx maintained its guidance for revenue growth of 8% to 10% and earnings of $15 to $15.50 per share this year, but added a caveat “Subject to the Macroeconomic Environment”.