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  • Why Your Raise Is Growing Faster Than Car Payments for the First Time

    Why Your Raise Is Growing Faster Than Car Payments for the First Time
    2026/06/07
    In Episode 37 of Wages and Prices with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna examine a surprising shift in household budgets: wages are finally outpacing auto loan payments. With average hourly earnings at $37.50 and new car payments averaging $750 per month, the ratio of a monthly payment to a week's pay has dropped below 4 to 1 for the first time since 2021. They dig into why this matters—and why it might not last, as auto loan delinquencies hit a 14-year high. A must-listen for anyone wondering if their raise is actually giving them breathing room. #Wages #AutoLoans #CarPayments #Inflation #PurchasingPower #RealWageGrowth #ConsumerFinance #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LucasAndLuna #CostOfLiving #AutoIndustry #Delinquencies #HouseholdBudget #FedPolicy #LaborMarket #UsedCarPrices Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 分
  • Why Your Raise Might Be Saving You From Drowning in Debt

    Why Your Raise Might Be Saving You From Drowning in Debt
    2026/06/07
    Episode 36 of Wages and Prices with Fexingo. Hosts Lucas and Luna look at a surprising trend: despite real wage growth finally turning positive in early 2026, household debt payments are consuming a record share of disposable income. They break down how the average raise of about 2.5% over the past year is being offset by rising credit card and auto loan costs. Using data from the New York Fed's latest household debt report and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, they explain why the 'raise feels like a lateral move' isn't just about inflation anymore—it's about the debt service ratio hitting its highest level since 2019. Lucas points out that while wages are up, the share of income going to debt payments has jumped from 9.5% to 10.2% in just two years, effectively eating a third of the typical raise. Luna notes that the problem is concentrated among younger borrowers, with delinquencies rising fastest for those under 40. The episode ends with a practical question: should workers prioritize paying down debt over saving? #WagesAndPrices #RealWageGrowth #HouseholdDebt #DebtServiceRatio #CostOfLiving #FederalReserve #NewYorkFed #ConsumerDebt #CreditCardDebt #AutoLoans #Inflation #PurchasingPower #Economics #Podcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #PersonalFinance #WorkerPay Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    5 分
  • The Raise You Got vs the Prices You Missed

    The Raise You Got vs the Prices You Missed
    2026/06/06
    Episode 35 of Wages and Prices digs into a quiet pattern in the May 2026 data: average hourly earnings are up to $37.50, but the broadest CPI hit 332.4 in April. Lucas and Luna walk through why the headline wage number can feel disconnected from what a paycheque actually buys, using the latest employment cost index and core inflation figures. They explore how the gap between what employers report paying and what workers feel matters more than ever, especially as long-term unemployment climbs and the Fed watches wage-driven services inflation. The conversation closes with a look at whether the Fed’s preferred measure — core PCE, sitting at 129.6 — tells a truer story than CPI for most households. #WagesAndPrices #Economics #WageGrowth #Inflation #CPI #CorePCE #EmploymentCostIndex #AverageHourlyEarnings #RealWages #FedPolicy #ServicesInflation #LongTermUnemployment #MayJobsReport #PaycheckReality #PriceIndex #CostOfLiving #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 分
  • How Real Wage Growth Finally Turned Positive in 2026

    How Real Wage Growth Finally Turned Positive in 2026
    2026/06/06
    For most of the past four years, raises have been a losing battle against inflation. But fresh data from May shows that average hourly earnings are now growing faster than consumer prices for the first sustained stretch since early 2021. Lucas and Luna dig into the numbers: average hourly earnings hit $37.50, the CPI is at 332.4, and the gap between wage growth and price growth has flipped positive. They explore what changed, why core inflation is still sticky at 3.8%, and whether this moment is durable or temporary. The episode closes with a look at which workers are seeing the biggest real gains and whether the trend can survive the upcoming jobs report. #RealWageGrowth #Inflation #AverageHourlyEarnings #CPI #CoreInflation #May2026 #JobsReport #LaborMarket #Economics #PurchasingPower #WageGrowth #PriceIndex #FederalReserve #CentralBanking #Workers #Paycheck #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 分
  • Why Long-Term Unemployment Is Growing While Wages Rise

    Why Long-Term Unemployment Is Growing While Wages Rise
    2026/06/05
    With the May jobs report coming Friday and ADP showing private payrolls grew by 122,000 in May, Lucas and Luna dig into a puzzle: wage growth is positive but long-term unemployment is surging. They explore hidden costs for workers, including skill erosion, employer bias, and the scarring effect on future earnings. Citing data on median weekly earnings at $1,204 and the CPI at 332.4, they ask whether a tight labor market is leaving behind the long-term unemployed—and what that means for the broader economy. #LongTermUnemployment #WageGrowth #JobsReport #ADP #CPI #LaborMarket #SkillErosion #HiddenCosts #Economics #Unemployment #EmploymentCostIndex #MedianWeeklyEarnings #FexingoWagesAndPrices #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Career #Paycheck #Inflation Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 分
  • Why Your Raise Is Outpacing Prices for the First Time in Years

    Why Your Raise Is Outpacing Prices for the First Time in Years
    2026/06/05
    In Episode 32 of Wages and Prices, Lucas and Luna examine a rare economic turning point: after years of raises lagging behind inflation, wage growth is finally pulling ahead. With average hourly earnings at $37.40 and the ten-year breakeven inflation rate dropping to 2.36 percent, real purchasing power is rising for the first time in this cycle. But it's not even across the board. The hosts unpack which workers are gaining ground, which sectors still lag, and why this reversal might not last. They also discuss the upcoming May jobs report and what private payroll growth of 122,000 says about the broader labor market. No clickbait, no fluff — just a clear-eyed look at whether the wage-price spiral is truly unwinding. #WagesAndPrices #Economics #WageGrowth #Inflation #PurchasingPower #RealEarnings #CostOfLiving #PayRaises #JobMarket #ADP #MayJobsReport #Fed #BreakevenInflation #LaborMarket #PersonalIncome #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #EconomicData Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 分
  • Why Your Raise Depends on Where You Live

    Why Your Raise Depends on Where You Live
    2026/06/04
    Average hourly earnings are up nationally, but a new Fed study shows wage growth varies wildly by metro area. Lucas and Luna break down why workers in Sun Belt cities are seeing bigger raises than those in the Northeast, and how local housing costs eat into purchasing power. Using fresh April 2026 data, they explain the geography of your paycheck and what it means for your next job move. #WageGrowth #RegionalEconomics #CostOfLiving #HousingCosts #SunBelt #FedStudy #HourlyEarnings #PurchasingPower #JobMarket #Inflation #Rent #Paycheck #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #WagesAndPrices #LucasAndLuna #MetroAreas Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 分
  • Where Your Raise Goes When Job Openings Surge

    Where Your Raise Goes When Job Openings Surge
    2026/06/04
    Episode 30 of Wages and Prices with Fexingo: Lucas and Luna examine the surprising divergence between surging job openings and slowing wage growth. Using April's JOLTS report — 7.6 million openings, the highest in nearly two years — and April wage data showing just 0.13% monthly growth, they explore why more vacancies aren't translating into bigger paychecks. The hosts drill into the 'job-switching premium' — the extra raise workers historically get by changing jobs — and how it's shrinking in this cycle. Lucas cites new research from the Atlanta Fed showing the premium has fallen from 7% in 2022 to around 4% today. They also touch on the geographic mismatch: openings are concentrated in healthcare and hospitality, while white-collar roles are flat. The episode ends with a look at what this means for the typical worker's bargaining power. #JobOpenings #WageGrowth #JOLTS #LaborMarket #JobSwitching #AtlantaFed #WagePremium #Hiring #Economics #Paychecks #Inflation #Workers #BargainingPower #HealthcareJobs #Hospitality #WhiteCollar #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 分