DATA FILE · DF-005

Real Average Earnings — Hourly Purchasing Power

How did inflation-adjusted average hourly earnings change over the month?

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Last verified Oct 9, 2026

Latest reading

−0.1 percent change from preceding month

Measurement period: August 2026
Release date: Sep 11, 2026
Frequency: Monthly
Seasonal adjustment: Seasonally adjusted

August's monthly change was −0.1%. July was first reported as −0.1% and revised to +0.1% in the September 11 release.

Open the primary data release (opens in a new tab)

Previous period and revision

Measurement period: July 2026
Previously released value: −0.1
Revised value: +0.1
Revision release date: Sep 11, 2026

Values use the same unit shown above. A revision changes the estimate for an earlier period; it is not a new reporting period’s reading.

Read the original previous-period release (opens in a new tab)

What this measures

The monthly change in real average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls.

What it does not establish

This is an average, not a median or an individual household's purchasing power. It is neither weekly earnings nor the production-and-nonsupervisory employee measure. Changes in workforce composition can affect the average.

Methodology

BLS CES0500000013 is real average hourly earnings for all employees, in constant 1982–84 dollars, seasonally adjusted. CPI-U deflates nominal earnings. The displayed transformation is 100 × (this month's real hourly earnings / the preceding month's level − 1). Use BLS's published one-decimal change; rounded inputs need not reproduce it exactly. Monthly estimates are preliminary and can change as earnings and price inputs are revised. Archived releases preserve each recorded vintage.

Observation history and release vintages

August 2026

First released value: −0.1
Original release date: Sep 11, 2026

All employees; real hourly earnings; monthly percent change, seasonally adjusted. Preliminary.

Original release (opens in a new tab)

July 2026

First released value: −0.1
Original release date: Aug 12, 2026
Revised value: +0.1
Revision release date: Sep 11, 2026

July's monthly rate was revised from −0.1% to +0.1%.

Original release (opens in a new tab)Revision source (opens in a new tab)

Next scheduled release

Oct 14, 2026. The agency’s release calendar controls the schedule.

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