Pew Finds US Buying Power Rose 11%-22% Since 1999 as 66% Call Inflation a Major Problem
Updated
Updated · Blackchronicle · May 27
Pew Finds US Buying Power Rose 11%-22% Since 1999 as 66% Call Inflation a Major Problem
1 articles · Updated · Blackchronicle · May 27
Pew Research found U.S. paychecks generally kept up with inflation from late 1999 to late 2025, leaving workers with 11%-22% more buying power over the long term.
Weekly median wages rose to $1,040 from $482 over that span before adjusting for inflation, even as higher prices for essentials such as beef, housing and rent strained household budgets.
66% of Americans now say inflation is a major problem, up 3 percentage points from a year earlier, underscoring the gap between long-run wage gains and current cost pressures.
Pew said the exact comparison depends on which inflation gauge is used, making the measure of whether wages outpaced prices partly a matter of methodology.
If long-term buying power is up, why do so many households feel financially squeezed by today's prices?
Are soaring beef and gas prices a temporary crisis or the new normal for American consumers?
With global crises driving inflation, can the Fed's rate strategy truly provide relief for American families?