Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
4. What "wage declines"?
Fri Apr 4, 2014, 02:11 PM
Apr 2014

"The OP starts off being about how to address declining real-dollar wages, but then veers off into a thing about how people complain about Obama too much. "

Maybe the problem is at least four OPs today that decided to spin a trend showing an increase in wages as a decline...despite the facts.

Real Median Household Income Rises 1.2% in February

By Doug Short

March 31, 2014 (Monthly Update)

Summary: The Sentier Research monthly median household income data series is now available for February. Nominal median household incomes were up $668 month-over-month and up $1,787 year-over-year. Adjusted for inflation, they were up 1.2% MoM and 2.4% YoY.

The latest monthly gain was the second largest of the 170 data points in this series since the turn of the century. However, in real dollar terms, the median annual income is 6.8% lower (about $3,892) than its interim high in January 2008.

<...>

The first chart below is an overlay of the nominal values and real monthly values chained in January 2014 dollars. The red line illustrates the history of nominal median household, and the blue line shows the real (inflation-adjusted value). I've added callouts to show specific nominal and real monthly values for January 2000 start date and the peak and post-peak troughs.



In the latest press release, Sentier Research spokesman Gordon Green summarizes the recent data.

This monthly increase in median household income between January and February 2014 extends an uneven but upward trend. Our time series charts clearly illustrate that although the economic recovery officially began in June 2009, the recovery in household income did not begin to emerge until after August 2011. While many of the month-to-month changes in median income since the low-point in August 2011 have not been statistically significant, an overall upward trend is clearly evident.

- more -

http://advisorperspectives.com/dshort/updates/Median-Household-Income-Update.php



In the face of these wage declines, why is the primary concern what people think of Obama? cthulu2016 Apr 2014 #1
The OP is about both policy and political reality. DanTex Apr 2014 #2
MUST PROTECT OBAMA Capt. Obvious Apr 2014 #3
That explains much Fumesucker Apr 2014 #5
S'rly Capt. Obvious Apr 2014 #8
it's ODS Skittles Apr 2014 #47
MUST PROTECT FACTS. ProSense Apr 2014 #6
What "wage declines"? ProSense Apr 2014 #4
You are intentionally using figures unadjusted for inflation??? cthulu2016 Apr 2014 #14
"Adjusted for inflation, they were up 1.2% MoM and 2.4% YoY." ProSense Apr 2014 #18
Why do you say that when ProSense provided a chart with both real and nominal figures? stevenleser Apr 2014 #21
Prosense is referring to a trend in the last month/year, which is small in comparison to what is DireStrike Apr 2014 #53
Nonsense. The trend has been upward for the last three years. The chart shows that. n/t ProSense Apr 2014 #56
Yes, if you squint really hard you can see a very minor increase in real wages DireStrike Apr 2014 #58
I think the problem that many have.... NCTraveler Apr 2014 #7
Disagree, and ProSense Apr 2014 #9
I get that you disagree. NCTraveler Apr 2014 #10
Well, ProSense Apr 2014 #11
"...I expected dismissal, and your comment flies in the face of the reality." NCTraveler Apr 2014 #13
I most ProSense Apr 2014 #17
Prosense, you have not come close to making the case that this is fundamental and structural change. NCTraveler Apr 2014 #22
Pure nonsense ProSense Apr 2014 #26
How is it fundamental and structural change to the economy? NCTraveler Apr 2014 #27
What the hell? ProSense Apr 2014 #28
Nonsense. NCTraveler Apr 2014 #30
You really ProSense Apr 2014 #33
You're Just Being Obstinate ProfessorGAC Apr 2014 #40
A couple of things. NCTraveler Apr 2014 #45
It's not ProSense Apr 2014 #49
Where Do I Stand? ProfessorGAC Apr 2014 #60
Well, I'm not sure what you mean by "fundamental and structural change". DanTex Apr 2014 #36
"it seems more like vague generalities rather than specific policy objections" NCTraveler Apr 2014 #38
I agree with a lot of what you say. DanTex Apr 2014 #50
The baseline needs to be the crash of 2008. CJCRANE Apr 2014 #12
Raising the minimum wage won't have any effect on the median income, will it? Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2014 #15
Not really. Increasing the minimum wage improves the safety net, but doesn't help most of us. reformist2 Apr 2014 #19
see my post right below cthulu2016 Apr 2014 #24
Good point. But I don't think 50% of workers are making $10 or less. Maybe 25-30% of workers. reformist2 Apr 2014 #25
Yes, the pressure from the artificial floor should decrease somewhat as you go up, but cthulu2016 Apr 2014 #31
Surely it would shift the median line to the right? CJCRANE Apr 2014 #20
I don't believe so. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2014 #32
I'm not a statistician but that doesn't make sense to me. CJCRANE Apr 2014 #34
The median is the income of the middle person. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2014 #35
I think it's the middle value, not the middle person. CJCRANE Apr 2014 #37
The middle value is the value of the middle person. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2014 #41
If you have 300 million people then the middle person is #150 million. CJCRANE Apr 2014 #43
And the median income is that person's income. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2014 #46
OK, as per my edit above I think you are right on that point CJCRANE Apr 2014 #48
It will affect more than 50% of wages, surely. Arguably 100%. cthulu2016 Apr 2014 #23
As cthulu pointed out, it would likely have indirect impact on wages beyond just DanTex Apr 2014 #57
Proud to be the first to rec this. Obama has fought HARD for the minimum wage Cali_Democrat Apr 2014 #16
Even with median income going up, everything you listed should happen. randome Apr 2014 #29
And here I thought this was going to be a thread about issues Marrah_G Apr 2014 #39
Short Fuse? ProfessorGAC Apr 2014 #42
Not just this one Marrah_G Apr 2014 #44
they're getting worse, aren't they? Skittles Apr 2014 #51
Yes Marrah_G Apr 2014 #52
It's unfortunate that you are going to ignore me instead of engaging. DanTex Apr 2014 #55
she, as am I, is simply fed up with it Skittles Apr 2014 #59
k&r n/t RainDog Apr 2014 #54
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Median incomes are not gr...»Reply #4