A sharp year-over-year increase in client travel spending in the first seven months of 2026 was driven by an increase in traveling, not simply higher prices, according to a new report from expense management company Emburse, released Wednesday.
Emburse in its "Emburse Expense Intelligence Report: Travel Edition" noted that enterprise transportation spending in the January through July 2026 period increased 26.7 percent year over year, even as overall enterprise spending increased 4.8 percent.
Though prices for U.S. airlines have increased in 2026, Emburse nevertheless suggested that the increase in travel spending was driven primarily by an increase in demand, as the number of transportation purchases in the period increased 18.7 percent year over year, while the average transportation expense claim rose 6.7 percent.
"For finance leaders, rising transportation spend should trigger a review of cash-flow impact, policy exceptions, and preferred-supplier adoption," Emburse chief revenue officer Michele Shepard wrote in a blog post announcing the results. "Procurement teams can compare travel growth by business unit and market, then use supplier concentration to renegotiate rates or strengthen preferred programs."
Airfare accounted for a little more than three-quarters of the total transportation increase, with taxis and rideshare services accounting for 14 percent, ahead of car rental, fuel and rail spending, according to Emburse.