Americans Are Getting Richer…Kind Of

For a look at how U.S. incomes compares with those in the rest of the world, see Are You in the Top One Percent of the World?

Data, Methodology and Definitions

To accomplish its analysis, Ipsos analyzed three government studies: the Current Population Survey (Census Bureau), the Survey of Consumer Finances (Federal Reserve Board) and the Consumer Expenditure Survey (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Note that the Census Bureau changed the methodology used for its Current Population Survey (CPS) in 2014, resulting in an increase in mean income across all population quintiles.

Following the Money

The most recent government data reveal that the top 20% to 25% of households hold a disproportionate share of income and wealth, compared to the bottom 75% to 80% of the country.

Specifically, affluent households – which make up roughly  25% of the population – earn 58% of all income. Even more revealing, those same households hold 74% of the total net worth of all American households.

When it comes to spending, affluent households spend two-and-a-half times more than non-affluent households. Their type of spending, however, isn’t that different. While there are minor variances, both the affluent and the non-affluent tend to spend their money in similar ways (on housing, transportation and more; see “Spending Distribution,” below).

Growth of Affluence

Before 2008 the size of the affluent population grew an average of 8% annually. That population saw almost no growth during the Great Recession (2008 to 2010). Since then, from 2011 to 2014, the affluent population in America has grown an average of 4% in size each year.

In essence this means the number of rich people continues to grow, but at a slower pace than before. According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, the current U.S. affluent population (25% of households) includes 31% of all adults in this country.

Income Distribution

Of the 125 million households in the U.S., more than 31 million have annual income of $100,000 or more. For most, household income ranges between $100,000 and $149,000.

Almost half of all households (60 million) have less than $50,000 in annual income. This makes the median income of affluent households two to three times higher than that of the general population.

Trends in Household Income

According to the most recent U.S. Census Current Population Survey, after adjusting for inflation, household income for the top quintile (20%) grew 76% between 1968 and 2015. The top 5% (ultra-affluent) grew an astonishing 91%.

Meanwhile, household income for the bottom 80% (100 million homes) grew just over 24% during the same 48-year period.

Net Worth Distribution

Affluent households typically have more than $500,000 in net worth. Thirty-five percent of affluent households have a net worth of $1 million or more. By contrast, most Americans have a net worth of less than $100,000.

As of 2013, affluent households, which made up 21% of the population at that time, held 74% of all net worth in the U.S. The ultra-affluent (4% of households) held 48% of the net worth.

Trends in Net Worth

In terms of growth, inflation-adjusted household net worth for the top 20% shows growth of 74% between 1989 and 2013. Interestingly, the largest growth happened in the bottom fifth of the population, where net worth growth approached 96%. (See The Shrinking Number of the Ultra Rich.)

A look at cumulative household net worth shows that the real net worth losers during this period were the middle class (third and fourth income quintiles). This part of the population actually showed a net worth loss (-1% for the third quintile and -3% for the fourth quintile).

Asset Distribution

Assets for the affluent and ultra-affluent classes average $2.1 million and $6.3 million respectively. The majority of these assets are held as businesses, primary residences and retirement accounts.

The non-affluent population averages $226,000 in total assets. Sixty-seven percent of these assets are non-financial, with 43% tied up in a primary residence.

Spending Distribution

The average affluent household spent more than $104,000 in 2015. Ultra-affluent households averaged almost $146,000. The general population averaged about $53,500. Despite the differences in budget, the top spending categories for all three groups were housing, transportation, personal insurance and pensions, food and healthcare.

One category served as an outlier: Affluent households spent $284 on tobacco and smoking products. Ultra-affluent households spent just $166. The general (non-affluent) population averaged $328 in that category.

Trends in Spending

Between 2005 and 2014, total spending by all U.S. households went up 15% or about $7,000. The majority of this increase came from affluent households which owned $5,000 of that amount. The majority of that came from non-discretionary healthcare spending.

In two other key areas, education and food, the percentage increase in affluent spending was less than that of the general population.

The Bottom Line

The Ipsos “Affluent Survey White Paper” reveals that although the wealthy class is growing, it is growing at a slower rate than before the Great Recession.

The paper also shows that the financial chasm between affluent and non-affluent households is considerable. The top 20% to 25% of households continue to hold a disproportionate share of income (58%) and net worth (74%). Those households also account for a significant share (39%) of annual consumer spending.