Hassett: Real Wages Up $3,000 Since Trump Took Office After Biden Declines

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett is highlighting a powerful turnaround in the American economy under President Trump. According to Hassett, the country is experiencing a capital spending boom unlike anything seen since the mid-1990s. That surge in investment is already feeding through to higher productivity and, most importantly, higher wages for workers. Real wages have risen by about $3,000 on average since President Trump returned to office, reversing a decline of roughly the same size that occurred under the previous administration.

Hassett’s comments underscore the contrast between the two records. Under Joe Biden, many American families saw their purchasing power erode as inflation outpaced wage growth. Since the change in leadership in 2025, the combination of stronger business investment, onshoring of production, and pro-growth policies has begun delivering measurable gains in real income. The capital spending wave is creating new factories, equipment purchases, and jobs that support higher paychecks for ordinary workers.

For those who supported a return to policies focused on growth and American workers, these numbers offer concrete evidence that the approach is working. A boom in long-term investment does not just lift corporate balance sheets — it raises living standards when it translates into real wage gains. Hassett’s assessment paints a picture of an economy shifting from stagnation to renewed momentum, with the benefits starting to show up in the paychecks of the people who need them most.