The Fact
BLS “real earnings” are average hourly or weekly earnings adjusted for inflation using a Consumer Price Index. BLS explicitly notes that real-earnings data cannot by themselves measure changes in living standards, which also depend on factors such as family income, benefits, and the duration and extent of employment and unemployment.
What This Means
“Real earnings rose” means the measured purchasing power of average earnings rose after the chosen inflation adjustment. It does not automatically mean a particular household has more disposable income or a higher standard of living.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Real Earnings Technical Notes; BLS Glossary. Accessed October 2, 2026. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/realer.tn.htm