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gruez • yesterday at 8:17 PM • 1 reply • view on HN

> Wage growth has remained relatively muted over the past year. That, combined with higher inflation, means Americans are earning less for an hour of work. Average hourly earnings, adjusted for inflation, fell 0.5 percent in September, and were down 0.7 percent from a year earlier. It was the sixth straight month of year-over-year declines in real earnings.

Where are they getting this data? This directly contradicts their claim:

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881600Q


Replies

ceejayoz • yesterday at 8:25 PM

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/realer.nr0.htm

> Real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.5 percent from August to September, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today… From September 2025 to September 2026, real average hourly earnings decreased 0.7 percent, seasonally adjusted.

Your chart appears to be weekly earnings, not per-hour wages. Having to pick up more shifts or a second job to make ends meet supports the point, in my book.