AI Data Insight
Total compensation of employees in the US rose to $16.488 trillion in the third quarter of 2026, an increase of $257.5 billion from the previous quarter, extending the record-high trend in overall income. However, as the growth of both average hourly and weekly earnings trails behind inflation, workers' real purchasing power is facing a test. The tug-of-war between inflation and the labor market over the next 1 to 2 months will become the key factor influencing the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and subsequent consumption momentum.