BILATERAL COMPARISON LEDGER · 1964-2025
U.S. Average Hourly Wages vs. CPI Inflation Rate (1964-2025)
Average Hourly Wages (Latest) 31.3 USD / Hour
U.S. Inflation Rate (Latest) 2.6 % YoY
Series Start 1964 First paired year
Paired Observations 62 Years Annual readings
Average Hourly Wages (Crimson) vs. U.S. Inflation Rate (Slate Blue)
Year-by-Year Comparison Table
| Year | Average Hourly Wages (USD / Hour) | U.S. Inflation Rate (% YoY) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31.34 | 2.63 |
| 2024 | 30.12 | 2.95 |
| 2023 | 28.92 | 4.12 |
| 2022 | 27.56 | 8.00 |
| 2021 | 25.91 | 4.70 |
| 2020 | 24.68 | 1.23 |
| 2019 | 23.51 | 1.81 |
| 2018 | 22.70 | 2.44 |
| 2017 | 22.04 | 2.13 |
| 2016 | 21.54 | 1.26 |
| 2015 | 21.03 | 0.12 |
| 2014 | 20.60 | 1.62 |
| 2013 | 20.13 | 1.46 |
| 2012 | 19.72 | 2.07 |
| 2011 | 19.44 | 3.16 |
| 2010 | 19.05 | 1.64 |
| 2009 | 18.61 | -0.36 |
| 2008 | 18.06 | 3.84 |
| 2007 | 17.41 | 2.85 |
| 2006 | 16.74 | 3.23 |
| 2005 | 16.11 | 3.39 |
| 2004 | 15.68 | 2.68 |
| 2003 | 15.36 | 2.27 |
| 2002 | 14.96 | 1.59 |
| 2001 | 14.54 | 2.83 |
| 2000 | 14.01 | 3.38 |
| 1999 | 13.49 | 2.19 |
| 1998 | 13.01 | 1.55 |
| 1997 | 12.50 | 2.34 |
| 1996 | 12.04 | 2.93 |
| 1995 | 11.65 | 2.81 |
| 1994 | 11.33 | 2.61 |
| 1993 | 11.05 | 2.95 |
| 1992 | 10.77 | 3.03 |
| 1991 | 10.51 | 4.23 |
| 1990 | 10.20 | 5.40 |
| 1989 | 9.80 | 4.83 |
| 1988 | 9.44 | 4.08 |
| 1987 | 9.14 | 3.66 |
| 1986 | 8.92 | 1.90 |
| 1985 | 8.73 | 3.55 |
| 1984 | 8.49 | 4.30 |
| 1983 | 8.20 | 3.21 |
| 1982 | 7.86 | 6.13 |
| 1981 | 7.43 | 10.33 |
| 1980 | 6.85 | 13.55 |
| 1979 | 6.34 | 11.25 |
| 1978 | 5.88 | 7.63 |
| 1977 | 5.44 | 6.50 |
| 1976 | 5.06 | 5.74 |
| 1975 | 4.74 | 9.14 |
| 1974 | 4.44 | 11.05 |
| 1973 | 4.14 | 6.18 |
| 1972 | 3.90 | 3.27 |
| 1971 | 3.63 | 4.29 |
| 1970 | 3.40 | 5.84 |
| 1969 | 3.22 | 5.46 |
| 1968 | 3.02 | 4.27 |
| 1967 | 2.85 | 2.77 |
| 1966 | 2.73 | 3.02 |
| 1965 | 2.63 | 1.59 |
| 1964 | 2.53 | 1.28 |