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Wage increases seem to be slowing after more than a year of strong gains

Apr 6, 2023
That's good news for in the fight against inflation, as long as consumers don't cut spending so much that the economy tips into recession.
Lower-wage workers, including those in the service industry, have seen some of the strongest wage gains in recent years.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

How a tight labor market has made way for educators to strike

Mar 22, 2023
The ongoing strike by Los Angeles educators is being fueled largely by high demand for workers.
Los Angeles Unified School District workers and supporters rally outside LAUSD headquarters on the first day of a strike over a new contract on March 21.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Lower-income earners' wages have grown faster than others

Mar 8, 2023
A tight labor market has helped low-income workers raise their wages, according to a new working paper.
Many young people without degrees have left jobs in restaurants and hospitality to move to higher paying fields.
Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty Images

Where's the sweet spot for wage growth?

Mar 1, 2023
Economists say 3.5% wage growth is about right when you take inflation and productivity growth into account — but we're not there yet.
Right now, wage growth is at 4.4% year over year. But economists say 3.5% is the ideal figure.
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A more productive U.S. economy could unlock $10 trillion

Higher productivity could drive up wages, temper inflation and aid the energy transition, the McKinsey Global Institute finds.
Jean-Sebastien Evrard/AFP via Getty Images

Consumer debt is becoming more of a burden

Feb 7, 2023
Consumer debt levels have been rising. While wage gains have helped people pay off debt, those gains have been slowing down.
The Fed's consumer credit report, due out today, will show whether people are continuing to take on more and more debt.
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Wage growth is slowing down. But is there an upside for workers?

Jan 31, 2023
Wages increased 1% in Q4. Inflation is also slowing. All that could impact whether — and by how much — the Fed hikes interest rates.
Wage growth slowed to 1% in Q4, but inflation has been slowing too.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Business economists seem a little more optimistic, survey finds

Jan 23, 2023
A majority still think the country is headed for a recession. But the majority's shrinking.
A little more than half of economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics expect a recession, down from about two-thirds in October.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Why your paycheck isn't keeping up with inflation

Jan 16, 2023
The average paycheck lagged behind inflation in 2022, and the higher prices are hitting low-wage workers the hardest.
Recent data show that wages aren't growing at a fast enough rate to keep up with inflation, which impacts low-income workers the hardest.
Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images