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The graph shows middle class wealth at 102k in 1980s and 115k in the 2010s. EDIT - these numbers have already been adjusted for inflation.

thesuitonym 6y ago
Adjusted for inflation, 102k in 1980 was worth almost 270k in 2010. Using this calculator which seems to be using buying power instead of actual inflation. https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
- fighterpilot 6y ago
  Those numbers were already adjusted for inflation.
- bhupy 6y ago
  The graph is already adjusted for inflation, it’s in 2018 dollars. You can’t adjust it a second time.
- gshulegaard 6y ago
  I am going to assume the original comment-or simply didn't think about inflation (common mistake...which is further understandable since the graphic doesn't make it obvious whether or not it is nominal dollars or adjusted dollars). So in that spirit, here is another resource which talks about minimum wage and even included an adjusted minimum wage graph within: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/21/politics/minimum-wage-inflation-productivity/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/21/politics/minimum-wage-inflati... The minimum wage is not the only measurement for this discussion, but it does seem like since the 1980's the purchasing power represented by minimum wage has been falling (but at the very least is less today than then).
  - jonas21 6y ago
    > which is further understandable since the graphic doesn't make it obvious whether or not it is nominal dollars or adjusted dollars Except for the part where it says "Median family wealth, in 2018 dollars"?
    - gshulegaard 6y ago
      Indeed, mea culpa it is too late. I ultimately had to go to the source to confirm: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/01/09/trends-in-income-and-wealth-inequality/ https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/01/09/trends-... Where it was clearer: > Even so, the gains for both lower- and middle-income families were outdistanced by upper-income families, whose median wealth increased by 85% over the same period, from $344,100 in 1983 to $636,000 in 2001. (Figures are expressed in 2018 dollars.)

thesuitonym 6y ago

Adjusted for inflation, 102k in 1980 was worth almost 270k in 2010. Using this calculator which seems to be using buying power instead of actual inflation. https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

fighterpilot 6y ago
Those numbers were already adjusted for inflation.
bhupy 6y ago
The graph is already adjusted for inflation, it’s in 2018 dollars. You can’t adjust it a second time.
gshulegaard 6y ago
I am going to assume the original comment-or simply didn't think about inflation (common mistake...which is further understandable since the graphic doesn't make it obvious whether or not it is nominal dollars or adjusted dollars). So in that spirit, here is another resource which talks about minimum wage and even included an adjusted minimum wage graph within: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/21/politics/minimum-wage-inflation-productivity/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/21/politics/minimum-wage-inflati... The minimum wage is not the only measurement for this discussion, but it does seem like since the 1980's the purchasing power represented by minimum wage has been falling (but at the very least is less today than then).
- jonas21 6y ago
  > which is further understandable since the graphic doesn't make it obvious whether or not it is nominal dollars or adjusted dollars Except for the part where it says "Median family wealth, in 2018 dollars"?
  - gshulegaard 6y ago
    Indeed, mea culpa it is too late. I ultimately had to go to the source to confirm: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/01/09/trends-in-income-and-wealth-inequality/ https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/01/09/trends-... Where it was clearer: > Even so, the gains for both lower- and middle-income families were outdistanced by upper-income families, whose median wealth increased by 85% over the same period, from $344,100 in 1983 to $636,000 in 2001. (Figures are expressed in 2018 dollars.)