I wonder if those single income households include maintenance and alimony. The nature of families has changed significantly since the 1970s with more divorce a

I wonder if those single income households include maintenance and alimony. The nature of families has changed significantly since the 1970s with more divorce and more children being raised in one parent households. I doubt the single parent receiving money from the estranged parent is counted as a two earner household, even though in some senses it is. Once you add the changing rate of marriage, increase in single person households since the 70s, and the fact that real inflation often varies depending on which income quintile you're in, I don't think enough data is available to let you pick it apart meaningfully. So we're left trading anecdotes or stats with gaps. :) The number of traditionally shaped families, i.e. mum, dad, and 2.2 children has plummeted since the 70s and the number of singles, with or without children has rocketed from both increasing separation and later entry into relationships. I'm in agreement with your main point, that it's far harder for a single earner family to thrive now than in the past. I doubt I can cite that in any sensible way.