Federal data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on October 21, 2026, reveals that median weekly earnings for full-time workers increased by 1.5% from the same quarter in 2025, rising to $1,232. However, this wage growth is significantly outpaced by a 3.5% rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) during the same period, indicating that wages have not kept up with inflation.

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The CPI for urban consumers observed a 3.5% increase in the third quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year and ended September with a 3.7% gain over September 2025. The BLS report, derived from the Current Population Survey, presents a comprehensive overview of earnings among diverse demographic groups.

Key findings from the report show that women had median weekly earnings of $1,127, which is 83.4% of the $1,352 median for men. In terms of race and ethnicity, Hispanic full-time workers earned a median of $981, which is less than both Black ($1,012) and White ($1,261) workers, as well as Asian workers who earned $1,633.

Examining earnings by sex, Black men reported median weekly earnings of $1,040, about 74.6% of the median for White men at $1,394, while Hispanic men earned $1,028, or 73.7% of their White counterparts' earnings.

Earnings also varied by age: men aged 35 to 64 had the highest median earnings, with men aged 45 to 54 earning $1,563. Similarly, among women, those aged 35 to 64 had the highest earnings, with women aged 35 to 44 earning $1,263.

Occupationally, workers in management and professional roles had the highest median earnings, with men earning $1,910 and women earning $1,493, while those in service occupations earned the least, at $876 for men and $760 for women.

In terms of education, full-time workers aged 25 and over without a high school diploma earned a median of $819, while high school graduates earned $993, and those with at least a bachelor’s degree earned $1,752. Notably, the top 10% of male workers with advanced degrees earned $4,985 or more weekly, compared to $3,572 or more for their female counterparts.

Thomas Thompson, chief economist at Havas Edge, commented on the report, highlighting a “disconnect between economic statistics and consumer sentiment.” He remarked that while wage increases are technically accurate, they do not reflect the challenges households face as their purchasing power declines.

Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, noted that inflation since 2025 has significantly diminished wage gains and attributed ongoing inflationary pressures to external factors, including the war in Iran. This situation contrasts sharply with the economic conditions during President Trump’s first term, when wages rose significantly above inflation rates.