Why Raises Don’t Beat Inflation

“Ever feel like your salary increases… but your life gets more expensive anyway? That’s not in your

head — it’s math. Since 2020, prices in the U.S. exploded — groceries, rent,

fuel, healthcare. But wages? They moved… slowly. Inflation hit almost

9% at its peak. Most people got raises of 4–5%. That means even with a raise,

you were actually poorer. Why? Because companies raised prices faster

than they raised pay. Productivity gains went to profits, not paychecks.

And essentials like rent and food rose way faster than average inflation. So when your salary

goes up, your bills go up even more. Until wages grow faster than prices