real income

American  

[ree-uhl, reel] / ˈri əl, ril /

noun

1. the amount of goods and services that money income will buy.

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real income Cultural  

1. Income measured in terms of the goods and services it can buy.

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Etymology

Origin of real income

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

real income

But today’s 40% offers real income, alongside real shock absorption to shaky equity markets.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

A study by financial advising company SmartAsset of the 94 largest population centers in the U.S. looked at real income growth in 2024, and the Orange County neighborhoods were in the top 15.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

That paper gain was a financial curse for families intending to stay put: While real income remained flat, tax bills went up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

“The U.S. consumer has shown an impressive determination to keep shopping throughout the tariff and oil price shocks, cutting savings as real income growth turned negative,” said Paul Donovan, chief economist at UBS Wealth Management.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

Moreover, whether in merchants' or consumers' hands they produce a real income, in the latter case consisting of the comforts and conveniences which attend their consumption.

From The Evolution of Modern Capitalism A Study of Machine Production by J. A. (John Atkinson) Hobson