Why Your Raise Might Be Saving You From Drowning in Debt

Episode 36 of Wages and Prices with Fexingo. Hosts Lucas and Luna look at a surprising trend: despite real wage growth finally turning positive in early 2026, household debt payments are consuming a record share of disposable income. They break down how the average raise of about 2.5% over the past year is being offset by rising credit card and auto loan costs. Using data from the New York Fed's latest household debt report and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, they explain why the 'raise feels like a lateral move' isn't just about inflation anymore—it's about the debt service ratio hitting its highest level since 2019. Lucas points out that while wages are up, the share of income going to debt payments has jumped from 9.5% to 10.2% in just two years, effectively eating a third of the typical raise. Luna notes that the problem is concentrated among younger borrowers, with delinquencies rising fastest for those under 40. The episode ends with a practical question: should workers prioritize paying down debt over saving? #WagesAndPrices #RealWageGrowth #HouseholdDebt #DebtServiceRatio #CostOfLiving #FederalReserve #NewYorkFed #ConsumerDebt #CreditCardDebt #AutoLoans #Inflation #PurchasingPower #Economics #Podcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #PersonalFinance #WorkerPay Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo