Steady Growth in Real Wages

January 27, 2025

Wages rose strongly with inflation beginning in mid-2021, but the pace of price increases was faster than wage increases, leading to a loss of buying power despite higher income. Real wages — adjusted for inflation — actually declined during this period. For example, at the height of inflation in June 2022, wages increased at an annual rate of 6.7%, but real wages declined by 2.4%.



Inflation has dropped dramatically since then, while wage growth has cooled more slowly, leading to solid gains in real wages. If this trend continues, it could help keep the economy strong as workers catch up from the hardship of high inflation and benefit from increased income in relation to the cost of living.

A graph showing inflation, wage growth, and real wage growth.

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