SOMETHING DOESN'T ADD UP

On the one hand we are told all these workers haven't had a raise in more than 35 yrs, (see figure),* but on the other hand we are told that wages are increasing  at over a 2 % rate in recent years, somewhat higher than official inflation figures with 2016 having the largest income increases in years.**  Seen on the figure is that average hourly wages hit a bottom in 1994 and have been gently rising since.

(Click on figure to enlarge)

Paulsen [Jim Paulsen , chief investment strategist at Wells Capital Management.] points to several other indicators, particularly gains in median income, that the Fed should use as green lights for more rate hikes.  Bolding and underlining mine.***

On the other hand, credit card debt seems alarming, though many of the poor do not have credit cards because of low credit ratings:***
As we reported last week, personal finance site WalletHub recently sounded the alarm, reporting that consumers racked up a record $21.9 billion in new credit card debt in the third quarter alone, the largest increase since 2007. It predicts 2016 will end with a net increase of about $80 billion in credit card debt, with the average household owing more than $8,000.***

A new report from the personal finance site NerdWallet looks at total consumer debt, putting the total at $12.35 trillion. Credit card debt alone, it says, averages $16,061 per household..***

In my personal working career, I wasn't piggish I just wanted a 10% raise in salary.  I think three times in my career I got that, but it wasn't long before I wanted another 10%.  Still, I always paid my credit card off monthly, except for a few unusual occasions.

* http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/10/09/for-most-workers-real-wages-have-barely-budged-for-decades/
** https://www.fastcompany.com/3055151/the-future-of-work/employees-will-get-the-biggest-salary-increase-in-years-in-2016
*** http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/22/january-2017-existing-home-sales.htmlhttp://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/06/fed-interest-rate-hike-in-march-is-big-deal.html
*** https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/rising-concern-about-credit-card-debt-121416.html
http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-card-debt-statistics-1276.php