Top economist Justin Wolfers has warned of a growing “affordability crisis” as the newly released May CPI report reveals that “real wages” have been falling for six consecutive months, completely eroding worker gains in 2026.

Shocks Batter Paychecks

According to Wolfers, the latest inflation surge is a direct result of two “unhelpful supply shocks”: an escalating war pushing up energy costs and tariffs raising prices on everyday goods.

Because prices are rising faster than paychecks, the “purchasing power” of the typical American worker has flatlined, failing to rise a single penny since January 2025.

“Oil doesn't stay in your gas tank,” Wolfers noted, warning that this energy shock is quickly morphing into a broader core-inflation problem.

Prices are rising faster than paychecks.⁣
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Average wages haven't kept pace with inflation, which means the purchasing power of the typical paycheck has been falling.⁣
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I explain what's driving it—and why the headlines are likely to get louder: https://t.co/kolre4RGsk pic.twitter.com/GYRWALlucx

— Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) June 10, 2026

Broad Economic Pain

Other leading financial experts echo these anxieties. Bill Adams, Chief U.S. Economist at Fifth Third Commercial Bank, confirmed that the Iran War pushed domestic gasoline prices up a staggering 40.5% from a year earlier, driving an “outsize increase” in headline inflation.

Furthermore, Adams highlighted that labor-intensive services are under heavy upward pressure, forcing “Supercore CPI” to its highest level since early 2025.

Jeffrey Roach, Chief Economist for LPL Financial, added that core annual inflation accelerated to 2.9% in May. Roach warned that if shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz extend past Labor Day, the persistent energy shock will heavily upend monetary policy expectations throughout the summer.

Wall Street Braces For Hikes

Consequently, the financial sector is preparing for an aggressive pivot by the Federal Reserve as incoming Chair Kevin Warsh takes the helm.

Chris Zaccarelli, Chief Investment Officer for Northlight Asset Management, noted that a strong rise in core metrics means the Fed is in no position to ease.

Zaccarelli warned that the Fed’s next move may actually be a rate hike rather than a cut, stating clearly that “if things stay as they are currently, then all bets are off.”

How Have Markets Performed In 2026?

The S&P 500 index has advanced 5.96% year-to-date. Similarly, the Nasdaq Composite index was up 8.32%, and the Dow Jones gained 3.18% YTD.

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:QQQ), which track the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, respectively, closed lower on Wednesday. The SPY ended down 1.58% at $725.43, while the QQQ was lower by 2.00% to $693.69.

Meanwhile, Dow tracker, State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE:DIA), closed 1.80% lower on Wednesday.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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