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The
Rich, the Poor, and the In Between
Has income inequality in the United States increased? In 1998, the
average income of households in the bottom fifth of the income
distribution was $9,223, compared with $127,529 among households in
the top fifth of the income scale. Mean income among households in the
middle of the distribution was $38,967. Between 1970 and 1998 the
average household income increased within each of the five groups, but
the wealthiest households had the biggest gains.
Another way to examine inequality is to compare the share of total
household income going to households in each fifth of the income
distribution. In 1970, households in the top 20 percent of the income
distribution received about 44 percent of all income. By 1998, this
number approached 50 percent. The share of total income received by
households in each of the other four groups declined over the same
period. |
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| Mean Household Income (1998 Dollars) by Quintile, 1970 and 1998 |
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1970 |
1998 |
| Lowest fifth |
8,008 |
9,223 |
| Second fifth |
21,293 |
23,288 |
| Third fifth |
34,289 |
38,967 |
| Fourth fifth |
48,336 |
60,266 |
| Highest fifth |
85,581 |
127,529 |
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| Share of Aggregate Household Income (1998 Dollars) by Quintile |
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1970 |
1998 |
| Lowest fifth |
4.1 |
3.6 |
| Second fifth |
10.8 |
9.0 |
| Third fifth |
17.4 |
15.0 |
| Fourth fifth |
24.5 |
23.2 |
| Highest fifth |
43.3 |
49.2 |
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Source:
U.S. Census Bureau
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