Average hourly earnings for American workers have declined since the 1970s after adjusting for inflation. In 1973, average hourly earnings peaked at $4.03 (in 1982 dollars adjusted for inflation), but by 2011 had fallen to $3.33, a 17% decline over 38 years despite increases in worker productivity and GDP over the same period. This erosion of wages has contributed to growing income inequality in the United States.