US Workers' Pay Fails to Keep Pace with Inflation, Survey Shows

A new survey reveals a widening gap between wages and the cost of living for American workers, with 40% reporting their income has not kept up with expenses. The USA TODAY/SurveyMonkey Workforce Survey, conducted with over 3,000 workers, highlights pervasive financial strain as of January 2026. Only 20% of workers said their pay increased more than inflation over the past year. More than half have less than three months of living expenses saved, and 61% live paycheck to paycheck. A parallel PwC survey found more than half of the workforce experienced financial strain in 2025. Half of workers cited fully employer-paid healthcare premiums as their top desired benefit, reflecting concerns over rising out-of-pocket costs.