The Incredible Shrinking Pay Raise in One Chart

Earlier this week, President Obama announced that he will propose a 1 percent raise for federal employees in 2015.

If adopted by Congress, the raise would mark the second consecutive 1 percent increase after three years of frozen pay. Federal employee groups were not impressed , calling the proposal “pitiful,” “inadequate” and “bittersweet.”

Turns out the groups may have a point, at least from a historical perspective. Here’s a chart (click on it to enlarge) showing every federal employee raise since 1970: