American wages aren't keeping pace with inflation. The last time we had a sustained period of real-wage stagnation was during the sluggish recovery from the global financial crisis, @JonathanJLevin says

minimum wage in some states is still $7.25 an hour. meanwhile a single pretzel and drink at the mall costs more than that now. crazy knowing someone can work a full hour and still not afford a snack.

Russia's average monthly wage, adjusted for purchasing power parity, surpassed those in Greece, Slovakia and Hungary in 2025, Bloomberg reported. Wage growth has significantly outpaced productivity since the start of the war, driven by military spending that has drawn labor and capital into the defense sector. The trend resembles a wartime version of "Dutch disease," with rising labor costs eroding the competitiveness and profitability of civilian industries.