How much would the median weekly wage in 1999 be worth today?
Using four measures of inflation
Note: Figures represent median weekly earnings of employed wage and salary workers.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of IPUMS-CPS earnings data, Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) variants and Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
How much would the median weekly wage in 1999 be worth today?
Using four measures of inflation
| Inflation index | Median weekly earnings in December 1999 | Inflation adjusted to December 2025 | Percent change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main CPI | $482 | $928 | +93% |
| Chained CPI | $482 | $865.77 | +80% |
| CPI retroactive series | $482 | $933.14 | +94% |
| PCE | $482 | $851.72 | +77% |
Note: Figures represent median weekly earnings of employed wage and salary workers.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of IPUMS-CPS earnings data, Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) variants and Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
