Economists predict that real wages will rise in 2005. This will increase workers' disposable income and is expected to help boost consumer spending. These predictions are based on expectations that companies will increase hiring in 2005, creating a tighter labor market; and that falling oil prices and slowing increases in employee health costs will ease inflation.
See "Real Wages Seen Rising in '05 After First Decline in a Decade", Los Angeles Times, January 4, 2005