Wages Lag Behind Inflation | Auckland News

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 5, 2026 · 2m

Wages are falling behind inflation, leaving most workers worse off in real terms—pay rose just 2% while prices jumped 4.1%. The average hourly wage is now $44.62, and full-time earners take home about $1,730 weekly. Some sectors like wood manufacturing saw bigger gains (3%), while others like construction lagged (1.6%). Economists warn this wage gap is squeezing budgets, especially as essentials like fuel and food climb. Workers are logging more hours to maintain income, but weak labor market power and business constraints limit pay hikes. Alarmingly, 46% of raises were directly tied to…