According to the US Census Bureau, the Median household income for the United States and 14 states increased significantly in 2018 from the previous year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released.
The 2018 American Community Survey (ACS) shows that median household income rose between 2017 and 2018 for 10 of the 25 most populous metro- politan areas. Median household income for the nation has been increasing every year since 2013, but the year-to-year increase from 2017 is smaller than the prior three years.
However, the Gini index of income inequality was significantly higher during the same period for the nation and nine states. The ACS provides detailed estimates of demographic, social, economic and housing characteristics for states, congressional districts, counties, places and other localities every year. The estimates contained in a report released today are primarily based on the 2017 and 2018 ACS. All the dollar estimates in this story have been infla- tion-adjusted to 2018 dollars.
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: HISTORICAL COMPARISONS
Real median household income in the United States increased 0.8% to $61,937 be- tween 2017 and 2018. Median household income for the nation has been increasing every year since 2013, but the year-to-year increase from 2017 is smaller than the prior three years. Previously, increases ranged between 1.8% and 3.3% annually. This was the second consecutive year that U.S. median household income was higher than 2005, when the ACS was fully implemented.
Median household income in 2018 was higher than 2005 median household income for 31 states and the District of Columbia and lower in five states and Puerto Rico. In 14 states, differences were not statistically significant.
This was also the second consecutive year that U.S. median household income was higher than median household income in 2007, the year before the latest recession. It was also higher than before the recession in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Median household income in 2018 was still lower than pre-recession median house- hold income in nine states and Puerto Rico. In 21 states, differences were not statisti- cally significant.