As at 13 October 2026 · official data unless labelled
Real wage growth (wages less headline CPI)
-0.74 ptsBelow benchmark▲ 0.15 ptsJune quarter 2026vs benchmark 0 pts
What the numbers are telling us
Real wage growth (wages less headline CPI) was -0.74 pts in the June quarter 2026, up 0.15 pts on the previous reading (-0.89 pts).
The benchmark is zero, the point where wages keep pace with prices. The latest reading is 0.74 pts below it.
It is below its 10-year average of -0.42 pts, which is a worse reading than usual.
Why it matters
Whether pay rises are buying more or less than a year ago. Below zero, workers are losing ground.
What it should be
Zero, the point where wages keep pace with prices. Derived from ABS Wage Price Index and Consumer Price Index.
Real wages: the last 36 readings
Real wage growth (wages less headline CPI), 2017-Q3 to 2026-Q2
Every figure on this page is calculated from the stored official series (ABS, WPI (ABS Data API)); the summary is written from the numbers, not edited by hand.