Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Economic Standing of American Families

Below average: The percentage of Americans who think their family's income is below average relative to others climbed to a record high of 36 percent in 2010, according to the General Social Survey. The figure had been as low as 21 percent in 1973.

Above average: The percentage of Americans who think their family's income is above average relative to others has been above 20 percent since 1986. In 2010, the figure was 21 percent, down from the all-time high of 24 percent in 2000.

Average: The percentage of Americans who think their family's income is average was 50 percent or higher from 1972 through 1994. It briefly revisited the 50 percent mark in 2006 when many were awash in the easy money of the housing bubble years. Today, the percentage of Americans who think their income is average is at a record low of 43 percent.

Source: General Social Survey

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