Latest / Wages and Prices with Fexingo: Cost of Living, Pay Raises, and Workers' Purchasing Power
Why Your Raise Is Finally Beating Health Insurance Premiums
In Episode 61 of Wages and Prices, Lucas and Luna examine a surprising shift in the American paycheck: for the first time in years, wage growth is outpacing the rise in employer-sponsored health insurance premiums. Using fresh May 2026 data (average hourly earnings at $37.50, CPI at 334.0, core CPI at 336.1), they break down why premiums, which historically ate up raises, are now growing more slowly. The hosts explore how this trend affects workers' real purchasing power, especially in sectors like retail and hospitality where benefits are thin. They also tie in the latest Employment…
The skinny
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