Top 1 percent incomes grew five times as fast as bottom 90 percent incomes: Change in real annual average household income, by income group, 1979–2015
| Top 1% | Bottom 90% | |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 0% | 0% |
| 1980 | -4% | -3% |
| 1981 | -5% | -3% |
| 1982 | 1% | -4% |
| 1983 | 10% | -5% |
| 1984 | 21% | 0% |
| 1985 | 31% | 0% |
| 1986 | 70% | 3% |
| 1987 | 37% | 3% |
| 1988 | 73% | 4% |
| 1989 | 60% | 6% |
| 1990 | 54% | 6% |
| 1991 | 38% | 5% |
| 1992 | 56% | 7% |
| 1993 | 49% | 8% |
| 1994 | 53% | 9% |
| 1995 | 71% | 13% |
| 1996 | 90% | 14% |
| 1997 | 118% | 17% |
| 1998 | 147% | 22% |
| 1999 | 170% | 26% |
| 2000 | 198% | 27% |
| 2001 | 137% | 26% |
| 2002 | 110% | 25% |
| 2003 | 125% | 26% |
| 2004 | 169% | 30% |
| 2005 | 226% | 32% |
| 2006 | 252% | 35% |
| 2007 | 271% | 39% |
| 2008 | 201% | 36% |
| 2009 | 135% | 34% |
| 2010 | 172% | 35% |
| 2011 | 171% | 34% |
| 2012 | 235% | 34% |
| 2013 | 180% | 37% |
| 2014 | 217% | 40% |
| 2015 | 229% | 46% |
Notes: Data are for comprehensive income, including market income, social insurance benefits, and means-tested transfers. Average income for the bottom 90th was constructed using a simple weighted average of the bottom four quintiles and the 91–90th deciles.
Source: EPI analysis of data from the Congressional Budget Office (2018).