Why Your Raise Is Finally Beating the Cost of a Night Out

In episode 129 of Wages and Prices with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore how wage growth is finally outpacing the cost of dining out and entertainment. With average hourly earnings at $37.60 and CPI cooling to 332.6, workers are seeing real gains in purchasing power for the first time in years. But the picture is mixed: while restaurant prices have moderated, costs for concerts and sporting events are still climbing. Lucas breaks down the latest data from the Fed's Beige Book and the surprising effect of the World Cup on bar and restaurant traffic. Luna pushes back on whether the gains are evenly distributed. A focused, numbers-driven look at what your paycheck can actually buy in July 2026. #Wages #Prices #Inflation #CPI #Earnings #DiningOut #Entertainment #PurchasingPower #RealWages #CostOfLiving #WorldCup #FedBeigeBook #EconomicData #HourlyEarnings #RestaurantPrices #ConcertTickets #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo