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US workers real wages slide as inflation races past paychecks
Economy
Published on 12 May 2026
Gas prices jumped nearly 30% as rents surged too
US inflation hit 3.8% in April, the highest since May 2023, pushing prices higher faster than paychecks can grow. Real wages fell for the first time in three years as gasoline surged 28.4% and rent inflation accelerated. Middle-class families are now paying more for essentials like groceries, fuel, electricity, and housing—turning inflation into a daily affordability shock.
- Inflation rose to 3.8% in April, eroding purchasing power
- Real wages fell for the first time in three years
- Gasoline prices surged 28.4% and rent inflation accelerated
- Middle-class spending on essentials is rising despite bigger paychecks
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times