Bessent says wages for 'main street workers' in US are up

The figures come as the Trump administration attempts to push the successes of its economic agenda ahead of the midterms in November.

Published: August 6, 2026 7:15pm

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that wages are up for Americans nationwide but particularly for "Main Street workers" who have seen a 5.5% year over year boost as of the last quarter.

Bessent slammed the mainstream media for reportedly distorting the latest numbers and recently claimed the “K-shaped” economy, which refers to the divergent fortunes of the rich and poor, is a thing of the past.

"The truth is wages are up for Americans across the distribution, but importantly earnings growth for Main Street workers at the 25th earnings percentile was 5.5% year over year in the latest data this past quarter—more than three times the growth experienced by workers at the 75th percentile," Bessent said on X. "Median weekly earnings also rose a robust 4.6%, well outpacing inflation.

"This marks a stark improvement from the loss of purchasing power Main Street Americans experienced during the Biden Administration," he continued. "Families have not forgotten the pain of Biden-era policies. But President Trump is turning the tide. 

"The fact is, lower-wage workers are leading, median workers are gaining, and the pundit-driven K-shaped economy narrative does not hold up," he added.

A chart from the Bureau of Labor Statistics also showed that weekly earnings for workers in the top 75th percentile saw a boost of 1.5% compared to the second quarter of 2025.

The figures come as the Trump administration attempts to push the successes of its economic agenda ahead of the midterms in November. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage. 

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.
  • Just the News Spotlight

    Support Just the News