Real earnings in the United States declined by 0.9% in March 2026 on a month-over-month basis, according to data updated on 10 April 2026. This marks a sharp reversal from February 2026, when real earnings had inched up by 0.1% compared with the prior month.
The month-over-month comparison shows that after a marginal improvement in February, workers’ purchasing power weakened notably in March. The “actual” March reading reflects the change from February to March 2026, while the “previous” figure captures the change from January to February 2026. The negative turn in March underscores renewed pressure on real incomes after a brief period of modest growth.
