15 Mind-Blowing Facts About Wealth And Inequality In America

homeless man alaskaThe rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Cliché, sure, but it’s also more true than at any time since the Gilded Age.

The poor are getting poorer, wages are falling behind inflation, and social mobility is at an all-time low. 

If you’re in that top 1%, life is grand.

Here’s 15 Mind-Blowing Charts About Wealth And Inequality In America >

The gap between the top 1% and everyone else hasn’t been this bad since the Roaring Twenties*

The gap between the top 1% and everyone else hasn't been this bad since the Roaring Twenties*

*This chart shows average income of the top 1% as a multiple of average income of the bottom 90%.

Bigger chart @ The Nation

Half of America has 2.5% of the wealth

Half of America has 2.5% of the wealth

Source: Institute for Policy Studies

Half of America has 0.5% of the stocks and bonds

Half of America has 0.5% of the stocks and bonds

Source: Institute for Policy Studies

Look at the gap grow!

Look at the gap grow!

Source: Professor G. William Domhoff

The last two decades were great… except for American workers

The last two decades were great... except for American workers

Real average earnings have not increased in 50 years

Real average earnings have not increased in 50 years

But savings rates are sinking

But savings rates are sinking

Poor Americans have a SLIM CHANCE of rising to the upper middle class

Poor Americans have a SLIM CHANCE of rising to the upper middle class

Source: NBER

Republican tax cuts have significantly increased the gap

Republican tax cuts have significantly increased the gap

Source:

Income tax is getting lower and lower for the rich

Income tax is getting lower and lower for the rich

America spreads the wealth FAR LESS than other developed countries

America spreads the wealth FAR LESS than other developed countries

America’s income spread is nearly twice the OECD average

America's income spread is nearly twice the OECD average

Source: Economist

The gap is NOT growing in other countries, like France

The gap is NOT growing in other countries, like France

Inequality is worst around Wall Street and Oil Land

Inequality is worst around Wall Street and Oil Land

If you aren’t in the top 1%, then you’re getting a bum deal

If you aren't in the top 1%, then you're getting a bum deal

Normalized to 1979, the top 1% have seen their share of America’s income more than double. The bottom 90% have seen their portion shrink.

Source: Afferent Input

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