Wages and Salaries Jump by Highest Rate in a Decade

Wages and Salaries Jump by the Highest Rate in a Decade Wages and salaries have jumped 3.1% over the past year. The 0.9% third quarter raise beat expectations by 0.4%. Wage growth has been considered the missing component of an otherwise strong U.S. economy. Michael Pearce, senior economist at Capital Economics, via CNBC U.S. unemployment is the lowest it's been in nearly five decades. Historically, wage growth and low unemployment leads to high consumer confidence. High consumer confidence is one of the key signs of more inflation. Inflation equals to a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.