+19.45% from Q1 2020, which doesn’t help you if rent is +30% and inflation in general hit +9%.

Which means workers are making more overall. You don’t pay just rent, but a complete basket of goods. If wages are up 19% while the basket of goods is up 9%, then workers have more money in their pocket.

There will often be some individual thing that sticks out in the basket. If not rent, then maybe food. If not food, then maybe energy. That can tell us where to focus policy to reduce inflation. It doesn’t tell us that workers make less money in real terms.

But the REAL problem is workers don’t see that gain unless they change jobs. Working the same job year after year you’re lucky to get 4% per year.

This is a big problem. Companies do not value loyalty.