Real earnings in the United States remained under pressure in May 2026, holding at a month-over-month decline of -0.2%, unchanged from April’s reading. The May data, updated on 10 June 2026, indicate that workers’ inflation-adjusted pay continued to slip at the same pace for a second consecutive month.
On a month-over-month basis, the “actual” May figure of -0.2% reflects a comparison of earnings in May to April, while the “previous” April figure of -0.2% compares April to March. The unchanged negative reading suggests that the erosion in purchasing power seen in April persisted into May, with no sign yet of a rebound in real wage momentum.