Growing Wealth Disparity in USA (Patreon)

This growing wealth disparity undermines social mobility, erodes the middle class, and risks economic instability due to concentrated spending power among the wealthiest. This is why you see protests like Occupy Wall Street and what is happening now.

Let's break down the change:

• Growing Wealth Disparity (1990–2025): The Top 10% of U.S. income earners increased their share of personal spending from ~40% in Q1 1990 to 50% in Q1 2024, while the Bottom 60% saw their share decline from ~25% to below 19%, and the 60%-90% group fell from ~37% to below 31% (Moody’s Analytics). Although these seem like small moves they are actually huge. Total consumer spending annualized is about $64.4 trillion. Dividing this by the estimated 132 million U.S. households gives an average annual household expenditure of roughly $488,000 per household. How much does your family spend a year? Then you see why the top 10% spend half!

• Wealth Concentration: In 2025, the Top 10% likely control 75% of total U.S. household wealth, while the Bottom 60% hold only 5-10%, which limits spending power.

• This is the worst part! Income Growth Gap: Real income for the Bottom 60% grew by less than 15% since 1990, while the Top 10% saw income growth of over 80%, driving further disparity.

• Poverty: Around 15-18% of Americans (50-55 million) live in poverty by 2025