The Poverty Wage: A National Shame The federal minimum wage has fallen to its lowest value in 70 years, earning it the dubious distinction of being "officially a poverty wage.
" This development should come as no surprise given the persistent neglect of lawmakers on this pressing issue. For 17 consecutive years, the federal minimum wage has remained stuck at $7.
25, with inflation outpacing wages and contributing to the stagnation in federal wage growth. Recent data shows that federal wage growth has declined from its peak of 6. 7% to 3. 6%.