Median household income climbed 0.7% between June 2018 and July 2019, after adjusting for inflation. The $65,084 July median was $438 greater than the June 2019 median, according to Sentier Research. Sentier's estimates are derived from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey and track the economic wellbeing of households on a monthly basis.

“Real median household income continued to display an upward trend over the past 12 months (up 2.3%),” says Sentier's Gordon Green, “and especially since the low point reached in June 2011 (up 16.6%).” At the June 2011 low point – two years after the official end of the Great Recession – median household income was just $55,798.  

Sentier's Household Income Index for July 2019 was 105.4 (January 2000 = 100.0). In other words, the July 2019 median, after adjusting for inflation, was just 5.4% higher than the median of January 2000 – almost two decades ago. “Not an impressive performance by any means,” says Green. To stay on top of these trends, look for the next monthly update from Sentier. Source: Cheryl Russell’s “Demo Memo”