real wages

American  

[ree-uhl, reel] / ˈri əl, ril /

plural noun

Economics.

1. wages estimated not in money but in purchasing power.

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real wages British  

plural noun

1. economics wages evaluated with reference to their purchasing power rather than to the money actually paid Compare money wages

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real wages Cultural  

1. Wages adjusted for the prevailing level of consumer prices. (See also constant dollars.)

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Etymology

Origin of real wages

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Consumer spending, two-thirds of US GDP, is pressured by falling real wages; AI enthusiasm also appears shaky.

From Barron's

Preliminary Shunto results signal solid pay increases, but real wages remain under pressure from inflation, now complicated by Middle East-driven energy shocks, Justin Feng and others say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Real wages are up and unemployment is low.

From The Wall Street Journal

Overall, real wages rose slightly faster in the 12 months ended in January than in the prior 12 months.

From The Wall Street Journal

Americans with the lowest incomes saw their real wages fall in 2025, according to a study from the Economic Policy Institute, a think tank that analyzed census data.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• net income