Scott McGerik Wrote:
For information on individual income, visit the Historical Income Tables - People at http://www.census.gov/hhes/income/histinc/p54.html which reports the percent of the population at a given income over time. An examination of the data shows a trend toward increasing (inflation adjusted) income. That is, the middle class is disappearing because it is being squeezed upward!
Peter Vevang writes:
The statistics you provided shows income from 1972 through the end of Clintons term as President. I am not disagreeing that people had their income go up under Clinton, especially at the end during the internet bubble. The middle class made significant gains. However since the so called 'end' of this recession in 2002-2003, where we had a marked decline in wages (as is typical in a recession), we have not seen a subsequent rebound in wages so far (which is not typical of a recovery). Rather we have seen an erosion of middle class purchasing power. Here is a comprehensive article on Income, Poverty and Health Insurance.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/p60-226.pdf
I posted some of this before.
Part of the reason for weak wage growth is the huge increases in health care costs that is bleeding us dry. This is obviously out of control. http://minneapolisfed.org/pubs/fedgaz/04-01/costs.cfm
Here is the 2004 economic info for the 9th Federal Reserve District. This confirms the 2003 Census data, and corraborates what I have been saying about wages. http://minneapolisfed.org/pubs/fedgaz/04-01/dec.cfm
Here is the July 2004 economic forecast (much more optimistic). http://minneapolisfed.org/pubs/fedgaz/04-07/dec.cfm
Here is the 2005 employment forecast, it is not that great. http://minneapolisfed.org/research/data/district/forecast/emp.cfm
Here is our projected personal income growth. http://minneapolisfed.org/research/data/district/forecast/perin.cfm
Here is our average MN wage ($15.25 per hour). http://www.deed.state.mn.us/news/release/2004/lmi8Dec04.htm
I guess I don't know what else I can say. The evidence is all right there. The middle class has clearly taken a big hit.
Peter Vevang Holland Park
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