Most people worry constantly about what they're spending on. But here's what the data actually shows: wage growth is outpacing inflation across the income ladder—and this pattern holds on both sides of the Atlantic. Whether you're looking at developed markets in North America or Europe, the trend is consistent. So while cost-of-living concerns feel real, the numbers suggest something different: real purchasing power is actually expanding for workers. This matters for how we think about macroeconomic cycles and asset allocation strategies moving forward.