Improving Incomes

Inflation-adjusted median household income rose to $61,372 in 2017, up 1.8% from 2016, and up smartly from the 2012 cyclical trough of $54,569. Despite the recent rise, median income is not meaningfully higher than the 1999 pre-recession peak of $60,062. In 2017, income rose more due to a rise in hours worked than rising wages. Households at the 90th percentile made $179,077, those at the 10th percentile earned just $14,219.