How Your Raise Is Finally Beating the Cost of Basic Household Supplies

In Episode 75 of Wages and Prices with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna examine how wage growth is finally outpacing the cost of everyday household essentials like paper towels, laundry detergent, and trash bags. Using the latest data from May 2026—including average hourly earnings at $37.50 and core CPI at 336.1—they break down why a category that felt persistently expensive is now becoming more affordable. Lucas cites a Bureau of Labor Statistics deep dive showing that prices for household cleaning and paper products have actually fallen 1.2% year-over-year, while wages have risen 4.3%. Luna pushes back on shrinkflation and whether consumers are getting the same value. The conversation touches on private-label brands, commodity input costs, and what the 10-year breakeven inflation rate of 2.21% means for the future. Includes a warm, organic listener-support moment. No fluff, just the numbers that matter to your wallet. #WagesAndPrices #HouseholdSupplies #CostOfLiving #WageGrowth #Inflation #CPI #CoreCPI #Shrinkflation #PrivateLabel #ConsumerGoods #Economics #PurchasingPower #RealWages #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna #EverydayEconomy #HouseholdEssentials Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo