Rising costs for middle class

Middle class income fell over the last decade, but it costs more to buy a home, pay your medical bills, and buy groceries.

Middle class makes less but pays more
Middle class makes less but pays more

In the first ten years of the 21st century, middle-class income fell but prices for many staples have risen sharply.

According to new census data, American households at the middle of the pay scale, made $49,445 last year. Even after adjusting for inflation, that means they're making about 7% less than they did just 10 years earlier.

During the same time, prices went up on new homes, healthcare, college, groceries and even movie theater tickets.

Take a look at what you paid for these common items and more in 2010, versus a decade earlier.



By Annalyn Censky - Last updated September 20 2011: 5:33 PM ET
Join the Conversation
Most Popular
 
 
 
 
 

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.