Cincinnati The Sun in Cincinnati, Ohio

Labor Day Dollars and Cents: Richer Firms, Weaker Workers

Workers face rising living costs and stagnant wages as prices climb 30 to 50 percent since 1944. Despite higher productivity, corporate profits soar to about 32 billion before taxes and around 20 billion after taxes, while the typical manufacturing worker earns roughly 52 a week, far below the Heller budget’s 78.50 weekly requirement.