How the Wage-Price Spiral Actually Works Today

Lucas and Luna dive into the current wage-price dynamic using fresh data from May 2026. Average hourly earnings are up to $37.40, but CPI is at 332.4 and consumer sentiment hit a record low last week. They explore why the classic 'wage-price spiral' hasn't fully materialized, despite rising labor costs. The episode focuses on the role of productivity and corporate margins as a buffer, using recent Federal Reserve research and real-world examples from the retail and manufacturing sectors. Lucas explains how unit labor costs are climbing faster than prices in some industries, while Luna questions whether workers are really feeling the gains. A grounded, data-rich conversation about what's happening beneath the headline numbers. #WagePriceSpiral #Inflation #AverageHourlyEarnings #CPI #ConsumerSentiment #FederalReserve #LaborCosts #Productivity #CorporateMargins #RealWages #UnitLaborCosts #EconomicData #May2026 #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Economics #WagesAndPrices #CostOfLiving Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo