The 86% Reality Check
- George Katifes
- Sep 11
- 1 min read
"The Purchasing Power Shock That Changes Everything"
Gen Z has 86% less purchasing power than baby boomers had in their 20s. Let that sink in.
While older generations bought homes on single minimum-wage incomes, today's workers need dual incomes just to survive. House prices increased twice as fast as income since 2000.
This isn't about laziness. It's about adapting to economic reality previous generations never faced.
When workers demand flexibility, they're not asking for less work - they're asking for work that fits around the financial survival strategies forced upon them.
The median age of first-time homebuyers jumped from 28 in 1991 to 38 in 2024. An entire decade of delayed life milestones because wages haven't kept pace with costs.
Companies still operating with 1990s mindsets will lose to those who understand this new economic landscape.
