Why Those Bigger Paychecks Don’t Feel as Good as You Thought They Would

Weekly earnings were rising at the fastest rate since the recession ended, but inflation-adjusted gains remain lackluster

…Costs are rising again, especially for essentials such as gasoline, rent and medical care. That gives Americans less leeway to spend more at retailers. Even when not adjusting for inflation, sales at stores, restaurants and online retailers declined in February and March. And lackluster consumer spending is a primary reason many economists project the economic expansion to have slowed sharply to start the year.

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