Most Do Not Own Stock

Only 49.9 percent of households own stock either directly or indirectly through mutual funds and retirement accounts, according to the 2010 Survey of Consumer Finances. This is down from the 53 percent majority in 2007. Between 2007 and 2010, the median value of stock owned by households fell from $35,500 to $29,000--an 18 percent decline, after adjusting for inflation.

Transactions accounts and retirement accounts are the only two financial assets owned by most households. The median value of transaction accounts (owned by 92.5 percent of households) in 2010 was just $3,500. The median value of retirement accounts (owned by 50.4 percent of households) was $44,000. Both declined in value between 2007 and 2010.

Source: Federal Reserve Board, Federal Reserve Bulletin, Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2007 to 2010: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances