Yippee!! Our wages aren't keeping up with inflation!

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
28,559
4
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20060203/ts_csm/apocket
Americans are working as hard as ever, but their paychecks aren't keeping pace with rising inflation. That means trouble for their pocketbooks - and for an economy that's fueled by their spending.

Indeed, after two years of a "jobless recovery" following the 2001 recession, the US economy now faces something equally unsettling: a "wageless recovery."

Several government reports this week tell the story. For the first year since the Great Depression, the personal savings rate went negative in 2005. Pay and benefits, meanwhile, rose just 3.1 percent last year - the lowest rate since 1996 and not enough to outpace a 3.4 percent jump in the consumer price index. Is there any relief in sight?

None came Thursday, as the government reported a decline in worker productivity for the closing months of last year, a trend that could limit future wage growth.


Isn't this what the Bushies and the neo-cons want? A leaner, lower paid workforce?
 

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
This is an expected outcome of globalizing. In the long run it will all sort itself out.

Of course in the long run you'll be dead.
 

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
28,559
4
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Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Of course in the long run you'll be dead.
Thank God I won't have to see America in 30 years as we turn into a geo-political has been and a financial basket case.
I feel sorry for the 25 year olds of today. They will work their tails off to pay my Social Security. And they won't see a penny when they retire.
 

BaliBabyDoc

Lifer
Jan 20, 2001
10,737
0
0
Originally posted by: techs
Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Of course in the long run you'll be dead.
Thank God I won't have to see America in 30 years as we turn into a geo-political has been and a financial basket case.
I feel sorry for the 25 year olds of today. They will work their tails off to pay my Social Security. And they won't see a penny when they retire.

That may be true but that SS surplus is buying some fine military hardware . . . to send to Iraq.
 

JacobJ

Banned
Mar 20, 2003
1,140
0
0
Our wages?

My wages are doing just fine.

Think about it. How have YOUR wages been doing?

The real issues are worker productivity and profit distribution.
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
Originally posted by: JacobJ
Our wages?

My wages are doing just fine.

Think about it. How have YOUR wages been doing?

The real issues are worker productivity and profit distribution.

My wages? Frozen last year and 3% this year. So my 3% is less than 2004 and 2005 inflation. I guess I'm not doing so well! :(
 

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
Originally posted by: JacobJ
Our wages?

My wages are doing just fine.

Think about it. How have YOUR wages been doing?

The real issues are worker productivity and profit distribution.
Actually, wage trends are generally hidden from individuals by the fact that your wage is pretty much a monotonically increasing function for your entire career.

You aren't the same employee you were 5 or maybe even 2 years ago, and the fact that you now make more money doens't mean that someone who is now where you were then is doing better than you did at the time.
 

Todd33

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 2003
7,842
2
81
Originally posted by: Genx87
I have seen a nearly 15% increase in my wages in the last 10 months.

did they raise minimum wage in your state?
 

CaptnKirk

Lifer
Jul 25, 2002
10,053
0
71
Originally posted by: Genx87
Originally posted by: Todd33
Originally posted by: Genx87
I have seen a nearly 15% increase in my wages in the last 10 months.

did they raise minimum wage in your state?

nope


OK then, next question - parents gave you a raise in your allowance ?
You now get $ 6 a week instead of $ 5 ?

 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
Originally posted by: Genx87
Originally posted by: Todd33
Originally posted by: Genx87
I have seen a nearly 15% increase in my wages in the last 10 months.

did they raise minimum wage in your state?

nope


OK then, next question - parents gave you a raise in your allowance ?
You now get $ 6 a week instead of $ 5 ?


Well isnt that a cute response?

If you want the real truth. I took advantage of a great job market and went looking for another job when my previous job didnt give me a big enough raise.

The job market is tight, this isnt 2001-2003, if companies are stiffing their employees, the employees should find a new job if they didnt like their recent compensation package.


 

brandonbull

Diamond Member
May 3, 2005
6,365
1,223
126
Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Originally posted by: techs
Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Of course in the long run you'll be dead.
Thank God I won't have to see America in 30 years as we turn into a geo-political has been and a financial basket case.
I feel sorry for the 25 year olds of today. They will work their tails off to pay my Social Security. And they won't see a penny when they retire.

That may be true but that SS surplus is buying some fine military hardware . . . to send to Iraq.

Then why are soldiers welding plates to the side of jeeps and sitting on sandbags for protection? I would say the SS surplus is ensuring the drunk Bush Twins and kids of Haliburton Execs won't need SS.

 

Bowfinger

Lifer
Nov 17, 2002
15,776
392
126
Originally posted by: Genx87
I have seen a nearly 15% increase in my wages in the last 10 months.
So if the average for everyone was 3.1%, this means four other people got an average of nothing. For every person like you who did better than inflation, there is another who fell further behind, who actually lost money in inflation-adjusted dollars.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,804
6,360
126
Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Originally posted by: Genx87
I have seen a nearly 15% increase in my wages in the last 10 months.
So if the average for everyone was 3.1%, this means four other people got an average of nothing. For every person like you who did better than inflation, there is another who fell further behind, who actually lost money in inflation-adjusted dollars.

Gen is right. Everone should quit their job and get a better paying one. It's foolproof! ;)
 

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Originally posted by: Genx87
I have seen a nearly 15% increase in my wages in the last 10 months.
So if the average for everyone was 3.1%, this means four other people got an average of nothing. For every person like you who did better than inflation, there is another who fell further behind, who actually lost money in inflation-adjusted dollars.
I already talked about this one;)
Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Actually, wage trends are generally hidden from individuals by the fact that your wage is pretty much a monotonically increasing function for your entire career.

You aren't the same employee you were 5 or maybe even 2 years ago, and the fact that you now make more money doens't mean that someone who is now where you were then is doing better than you did at the time.

 

1EZduzit

Lifer
Feb 4, 2002
11,833
1
0
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these
questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And,

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.

A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 127%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that While Hard work and
Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the
BullshiT and Ass kissing that will put you over the top!
 

bctbct

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2005
4,868
1
0
Originally posted by: Genx87
I have seen a nearly 15% increase in my wages in the last 10 months.


Pointless statement if you were making $6 you just went to $6.90. Factor in that fuel prices have pretty much almost doubled....hope you got in on Dubyas tax cuts for the rich.
 

Dissipate

Diamond Member
Jan 17, 2004
6,815
0
0
I have news for you. Your wages will never keep up with inflation. Does anyone here even know what causes inflation?
 

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
Originally posted by: Dissipate
I have news for you. Your wages will never keep up with inflation. Does anyone here even know what causes inflation?

Wages have historically outpaced inflation.

I know what you're trolling for and it only affects savings - it is actually rather neutral WRT wages.
 

Dissipate

Diamond Member
Jan 17, 2004
6,815
0
0
Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Originally posted by: Dissipate
I have news for you. Your wages will never keep up with inflation. Does anyone here even know what causes inflation?

Wages have historically outpaced inflation.

Let's see that data.

 

nergee

Senior member
Jan 25, 2000
843
0
0
my base wages increased 4.2% last year along with a 5.3% end of year bonus based on
my annual gross wages......guess I'm ahead of the game so far......