News and Commentary

Thanks To Inflation, American Wages Drop By Nearly 2%

Ben Zeisloft
Thanks To Inflation, American Wages Drop By Nearly 2%
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

According to federal data, the average American’s wage is on the decline due to inflation.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that “average hourly earnings” in the United States rose from $29.35 in June 2020 to $30.40 in June 2021 — a 3.6% increase. However, when factoring in inflation — specifically through the Consumer Price Index, which has risen by 5.3% since June 2020 — “real average hourly earnings” have diminished by 1.7% over the past year, despite a robust economic recovery during the same period.

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