Median Household Income Change 2008-2009

Median household income for the United States has declined, stagnated, or grown at lower percentage rates.

A household's income is the most basic measure of its economic well-being. With the country now more than 16 months into this recession, the impact of this downturn is taking a toll on the earnings of every U.S. householder. ESRI's 2009 income estimates capture income for calendar year 2008, the first year after the start of the recession. Income declines during a recession for several reasons such as job cuts, reduced overtime hours, minimal wage growth, and the implementation of pay cuts as businesses try to cut costs. Median household income for calendar year 2008 was $54,700, an increase of 2.9 percent annually since 2000, but a slight decrease of 0.1 percent from 2007.