Washington Post
Here’s why wages are falling behind inflation, an economic warning sign
Friday, September 4, 2026
Wage growth lagged inflation in August, according to economic data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported nominal wage increases of 0.3 percent for the month while inflation rose 0.2 percent, resulting in negative real wage growth. This marks a continuation of a pattern observed during 2023 when wage growth consistently failed to keep pace with price increases.
