Reply #44: That table is PER CAPITA income [View All]

[Hannah Bell]

not median income.

Here's the table you want:

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/histinc/p05ar.html

It tells a different story.

Male median (2005 dollars):

1978: 29,807
1985: 28,224
1990: 29,390
1995: 28,700
2000: 32,129
2005: 31,275

The jump in the last part of Clinton's term is probably attributable to the mini-boom then. Down since. With the adjustment in calculation of CPI, it's not even clear how comparable pre & post-Clinton figures are.

Women's income has done better but is considerably lower.

For all extents & purposes, median income has been flat since the 70's despite expanded productivity.

In manufacturing, US production hasn't gone down (though the mix seems to have changed).

But employment & wages have.