I don't buy that the middle class don't have as much money anymore: while that would impact large purchases (house, car) most stuff you can buy today is pretty

I don't buy that the middle class don't have as much money anymore: while that would impact large purchases (house, car) most stuff you can buy today is pretty cheap - you can get a six plate dinner set for under 20 on Amazon and a couch for 100. A 40 inch HD tv will set you back less than 200 - when I was growing up such a tv would have cost you more like 200.