Corporate profits increased by 25 percent in 2021 while inflation rose by 7 percent.
By Sharon Zhang, Truthout
As working-class Americans struggled with high inflation, corporate profits soared to a record high in 2021, reaching nearly $3 trillion.
Data from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that pre-tax profits over the whole year increased by a whopping 25 percent, reaching $2.8 trillion. The annualized rate of profit from the fourth quarter was even higher, at $2.94 trillion.

The boost in profits exceeds the 7 percent inflation for consumer prices, bolstering arguments that companies are raising prices beyond inflation rates in order to pad their profits. Meanwhile, hourly wages for U.S. workers increased by about 4.7 percent last year, which is equivalent to a pay cut of about 2.4 percent.
Recent Posts
The Terrorists Are Running The U.S. Government
April 18, 2025
Take Action Now Trump seems like a random spasmodic imbecile, but what we are seeing is an extension of the ongoing, centuries-long shifting of power…
Elon Musk Decimated The Government And Saved Almost Nothing
April 18, 2025
Take Action Now Elon Musk’s cuts may have “saved” the public less than half a percent of the national debt, but they are already making Americans…
Will Corporate Media Call Out A Constitutional Crisis?
April 17, 2025
Take Action Now Corporate media is failing to rise to the moment and give an honest accounting of the damage being done to our Democracy.By Ari…
‘We Had To Fight’: Jamaal Bowman And Cori Bush Talk AIPAC
April 17, 2025
Take Action Now The two former members of Congress pull back the curtain on US politics to discuss lobbying, corruption, and more.By Team Zeteo,…