What Those Household Income Figures Really Mean

The 99 percent did surprisingly well in 2015: That’s the message of two Census reports published this week. It’s good news -- and a reminder, if one were needed, of the link between rising employment and higher living standards. But it doesn't mean all is well in the economy.

The Current Population Survey says that median household incomes went up by an inflation-adjusted 5.2 percent in 2015, the largest rise since records began in 1967. The separate American Community Survey put the increase at 3.9 percent1473959262955. According to both reports, poorer households saw among the biggest gains.