Your economic footing
Real Footing
Pick your zip code and occupation. See one number that captures whether you're gaining or losing ground — and exactly why.
Pick a profile:Zip: 50309
Real Footing Index · Des Moines, IA
+1.2%
You're gaining ~1.2% of real ground this year — modest, but moving forward.
Real Wage Growth+1.2%Wage trend +4.3% minus local CPI 3.1%What is a real wage?Sample · BLS OES wage trend
Local vs. National Inflation3.1% localNational CPI: 3.4% · 0.3pp below nationalWhy doesn't national CPI match my bills?Sample · BLS Regional CPI + CPI-U
Job Market Heat2.9% localVery tight — fewer people competing for each openingWhy does local unemployment matter to me?Sample · BLS LAUS (Local Area Unemployment Statistics)
What this index measures
Real Footing = your occupation's wage trend minus local inflation. A positive number means wages in your field are outpacing prices where you live — you're gaining purchasing power. A negative number means prices are winning. Enter your own income above to see how your specific pay compares to the median for your field.