03.04.202612:30:00UTC+00U.S. Wage Growth Cools in March as Average Hourly Earnings Rise 0.2%

Average hourly earnings growth in the United States slowed in March 2026, with wages rising 0.2% month-over-month, down from a 0.4% increase recorded in February 2026. The latest figures, updated on 3 April 2026, point to a moderation in wage pressures compared with the previous month.

On a month-over-month basis, the “actual” reading for March reflects the change in earnings compared with February, while the “previous” figure for February captured the change relative to January. The deceleration from 0.4% to 0.2% suggests a cooling in short-term wage momentum, a data point likely to be closely watched by markets assessing the trajectory of inflation and monetary policy.