However, some economists disagree, and some studies have shown that these effects are generally small and localized. A blog post written by Economist Josh Bivens for the Economic Policy Institute and the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research has found that modest minimum-wage increases only raise prices marginally. Many businesses absorb wage increases through productivity improvements, slower hiring, or reduced turnover, rather than significant price hikes
KRCU Public Radio (Missouri)
January 5, 2026
Nineteen states, including Michigan, have increased their minimum wage, impacting over 8.3 million workers nationwide, according to the Economic Policy Institute. In Michigan, the minimum wage rose to $13.73 per hour, marking a 10% increase.
Mid-Michigan Now
January 5, 2026
Nineteen states will see a wage bump on Jan. 1, 2026. And, for the first time, there will be more states with a minimum wage at or above $15 per hour than states adhering to the federal minimum of $7.25, according to the liberal-leaning Economic Policy Institute.
Restaurant Business Magazine
January 5, 2026
The surge in wage is “critical for improving affordability,” according to the Economic Policy Institute. This increase, which went into effect on Jan. 1, will aid 8.3 million workers, the progressive think tank said. The economic impact will total $5 billion in increased wages.
San Antonio Express-News
January 5, 2026
A July 2025 report from the Economic Policy Institute by Ben Zipperer finds that, if the Trump administration follows through on its goals of deporting 4 million people over four years, there will be 3.3 million fewer employed immigrants and 2.6 million fewer employed U.S.-born workers at the end of that period.
It sounds counter-intuitive, but the research is solid, says Zipperer. For example, aggressive deportations can cause a sharp and abrupt enough fall in labor supply that some employers will respond by shutting down operations entirely.
Supply Chain Brain
January 5, 2026
Every city was selected based on its cost of living, health care, community, and climate—factors important to retirees. Every city was evaluated using a combination of state, county, and city-level data. We gathered data on these factors and criteria from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Investopedia
January 5, 2026
Ismael Cid Martinez, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, said the people who qualify for SNAP are likely working low-wage jobs that tend to be less stable because they are more tied to the nation’s macroeconomics. That means when the economy weakens, it’s the low-wage workers whose hours are cut and jobs are eliminated, which in turn heightens their need for government support. Restricting such benefits could threaten their ability to get back to work altogether, Martinez said.
“These are some of the matters that tie in together to explain the economy and (how) the labor market is connected to these benefits,” Martinez said. “None of us really show up into an economy on our own.”
Associated Press
January 5, 2026
The Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank, estimates around 8.3 million Americans will see higher wages because of the changes.
TEGNA
January 5, 2026
This new pay increase impacts over 8.3 million employees, who will gain a combined $5 billion during 2026, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Starting today, there will be more workers in states with a $15 or higher minimum wage than in states with the federal minimum of $7.25, the EPI noted.
Live Now FOX
January 5, 2026
The 19 states hiking wages will impact over 8 million workers, an analysis from the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank, found. Women, Black, and Hispanic workers are set to be disproportionately affected by the new increases, per EPI’s analysis, and workers in states like Missouri and Nebraska will see their annual wages increase by nearly $1,000 on average.
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- For the first time, more workers will live in states with at least a $15 minimum wage than the federal minimum.
Business Insider
January 5, 2026