Health Insurance Up 11%, Wage Compression Hits Hard, and Summer Consumer Spending

Health insurance premiums are rising at a median 11% this year — with some insurers spiking 32%. Minimum wage increases are still rolling through 88 jurisdictions, and the compression effect means your real payroll exposure is bigger than the headline rate. Plus, consumer spending is holding — but bifurcating sharply by income level with implications for Main Street heading into summer. Alex wraps the week.