Making Ends Meet

Column Published in syndication September 23, 2026

Recent data from the Census Bureau indicates that US real median household income reached $87,460 last year. It's a record high dating back to when the series began in 1967. The fact that it's "real" means that it is adjusted for inflation, and the "median" describes the level at which half fall above and half below. Clearly, it's nice to see some progress in this overall measure, but there are notable caveats that should be examined.

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