money at work

If your base pay rose 3% this year, prices rose faster.

Base pay for people who stayed in their jobs rose 3.0% in the year to August 2026. Consumer prices rose 3.4%. That is a pay cut with a raise letter attached.

You asked for the range conversation script. It is below, as the slides from the post, then the one move, then the tool the chart points at.

Slide 1 of 7: If your base pay rose 3% this year, prices rose faster.

Slide 2 of 7: Base pay for job stayers grew more slowly than consumer prices in the year to August 2026.

Slide 3 of 7: A 3% raise against 3.4% inflation buys less than last year's pay did, before the raise.

Slide 4 of 7: Shelter rose 3.0%, food at home 2.7%, and eating out 3.4% over the year.

Slide 5 of 7: You cannot control inflation, but you can name it in the room where your pay is decided.

Slide 6 of 7: How to bring the number without sounding like a complaint.

Slide 7 of 7: Save this for the week before your review.

The tool this chart points at

A high-yield savings account

FDIC-insured, no monthly fee, no minimum balance. Where the emergency fund lives.

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Sources: BLS CPI August 2026; ADP National Employment Report August 2026.

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