@hawkeye10,
hawk, Your graph doesn't tell the whole story - especially since the recovery after 2009. Most families have regained their home values - with many exceeding what they were before the crash. Consumer debt has been going down unlike government debt. Depending on where one lives, hiring has been increasing at a healthy clip.
Inflation has been under control since 2009 ranging from 1% to 2%/year. That's not bad, but it still doesn't help most wage earners who see the cost of living - especially for food increasing - all while their wages barely keep up.
Those earning income are living a pretty good standard of living, but those without jobs are hurting. Age, education, skills, and demand by location makes a big difference. Many in Silicon Valley with the right skills start at $135,000/year.
As most of you know, I travel a lot - around the world. Many mid-priced and high-priced restaurants are doing good business. My two week visit to Oahu in January was a real eye-opener. Most of the restaurants were filled to the gills most nights, and we had difficulty finding a place to heat - even a Roy's - where we waited over one hour for a table.
Many three and four star hotels charge upwards of $200+/night, and they're still getting pretty good occupancy rates having recovered to pre-recession levels. Cruises are filled with more staterooms from the building of mega-ships. Air traffic has been increasing. What this means is that consumers are spending more on leisure activities; more money to spend.
Not everybody are living in poverty.
