Figure W
Using a different deflator doesn't change the fact that most of the growth is at the top: Cumulative change in real hourly wages of all workers, by wage percentile, adjusted using PCE deflator, 1979–2019
| Year | 10th | 50th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1980 | -6.4% | -0.3% | -1.4% |
| 1981 | -7.3% | -0.9% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | -10.7% | -0.8% | 1.8% |
| 1983 | -13.6% | -0.6% | 4.9% |
| 1984 | -15.0% | 0.3% | 5.7% |
| 1985 | -16.1% | 1.7% | 7.8% |
| 1986 | -16.2% | 2.0% | 9.9% |
| 1987 | -16.0% | 3.5% | 13.4% |
| 1988 | -15.4% | 1.8% | 15.8% |
| 1989 | -16.0% | 1.6% | 9.1% |
| 1990 | -15.0% | 2.0% | 11.1% |
| 1991 | -13.3% | 1.4% | 12.9% |
| 1992 | -12.7% | 2.3% | 10.9% |
| 1993 | -11.5% | 3.9% | 8.7% |
| 1994 | -12.2% | 2.7% | 14.6% |
| 1995 | -12.8% | 1.6% | 15.3% |
| 1996 | -13.4% | 0.5% | 16.6% |
| 1997 | -10.4% | 2.9% | 18.4% |
| 1998 | -4.4% | 7.2% | 22.8% |
| 1999 | -2.0% | 10.6% | 26.9% |
| 2000 | -1.7% | 12.2% | 31.5% |
| 2001 | 2.3% | 15.0% | 35.0% |
| 2002 | 5.7% | 17.1% | 40.2% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | 17.5% | 39.5% |
| 2004 | 3.9% | 19.1% | 41.1% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | 17.9% | 42.2% |
| 2006 | 1.8% | 19.0% | 44.2% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | 19.5% | 47.1% |
| 2008 | 5.9% | 19.6% | 49.1% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | 21.9% | 52.1% |
| 2010 | 5.6% | 21.1% | 51.2% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | 18.8% | 50.7% |
| 2012 | 2.0% | 17.6% | 52.9% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | 18.3% | 55.7% |
| 2014 | 3.9% | 18.6% | 53.8% |
| 2015 | 8.8% | 20.6% | 63.7% |
| 2016 | 10.0% | 23.0% | 65.8% |
| 2017 | 15.0% | 24.6% | 68.8% |
| 2018 | 16.0% | 27.1% | 74.0% |
| 2019 | 15.6% | 28.8% | 82.6% |
Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. The xth-percentile wage is the wage at which x% of wage earners earn less and (100−x)% earn more. Wages are adjusted using the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index.
Source: Author’s analysis of EPI Current Population Survey Extracts, Version 1.0 (2020), https://microdata.epi.org, and Bureau of Economic Analysis National Income and Product Accounts (Table 2.3.4)
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