`Essential costs are increasing way faster than median household income and way faster than inflation overall,` says researcher
While median wages in Wisconsin have kept pace with inflation over the last 25 years, many essential household costs have risen much faster than wages and overall inflation.
That’s according to a new report from Forward Analytics, the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association. It highlights the rising costs for essential expenses like housing and healthcare as the primary constraint on household budgets across the state.
Preliminary estimates show that median household incomes in Wisconsin rose by 90 percent from 2000 to 2025, while overall costs of goods and services measured by the Consumer Price Index have increased by 87 percent during the same period, the report states...
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Leo`s notes: A new Forward Analytics report confirms what many households already feel: while wages have kept pace with inflation, essential costs—especially housing—have far outstripped income growth. With rents up 136% and homeownership costs up 115% since 2000, housing remains a primary pressure point in family budgets. Addressing workforce housing supply is central to restoring real affordability.
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- - Volume: 26 - WEEK: 9 Date: 2/23/2026 12:08:14 PM -