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real wages

[ree-uhl, reel] / ˈri əl, ril /
NOUN
purchasing power
Synonyms




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

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 • Mar. 24, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

The big news from the economy this week is that inflation is coming down, the jobs market is better than expected and real wages are rising.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

On the other hand, everything which makes goods cheaper, increases the real wages of workmen; because they can get more of the goods in exchange for the same money wages.

From Political economy by Jevons, W. Stanley