Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2024
Did real wages increase under Donald Trump more than any other modern president?
Real wages — wages adjusted for inflation — increased 7% during former President Donald Trump’s four years in office, the highest increase over one presidential term since the 1970s.
That’s according to a Texas A&M University analysis dating back to Jimmy Carter (1977-81).
The Trump increase was due partly to low-wage workers being laid off disproportionately during the COVID-19 pandemic, the analysis said.
Economist Josh Bivens of the liberal Economic Policy Institute said the 7% figure goes back to Richard Nixon’s first term in 1969. He called the increase under Trump “artificial” because fewer low-income workers were employed, driving up the average.
Depending on the type of real wages, such as hourly or weekly, the increase under Trump measures 8% or higher.
Republican Eric Hovde made the claim at an April 2, 2024, Trump event in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Hovde is running against Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin in the 2024 election.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Texas A&M University Presidents, Inflation, and Real Wages
- Google Docs Josh Bivens email 4/5/24
- FactCheck.org Trump’s Final Numbers
- Forbes Breaking News 'You've Got To Be Kidding Me!': Eric Hovde Torches Tammy Baldwin's Record At Wisconsin Trump Rally
About fact briefs
Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.
See all fact briefs
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
Learn MoreLatest Fact Briefs
Is Wisconsin one of only six states with same-day voter registration?
Monday, Feb. 17, 2025
Do recent studies link water fluoridation with less dental decay in children?
Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
Are airline flights the safest mode of transportation in the U.S.?
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025