Trends and the Average American

Trends: Some significant changes:
the top federal tax rate in 1975 was 70%; in 2005, it was 35%.
The personal savings rate was 10.5% in 1975; in 2005, it was -0.4%.

Barry Ritholtz at The Big Picture provides some data points from a Forbes magazine article.

Link: The Big Picture: The Average American: 1967 And Today.

Fascinating data points in a Forbes magazine looking at "Mr. And Mrs. Median over the decades."

Median Income (Men)*

1965 $28,599
1975 $33,148
1985 $42,847
1995 $39,186
2005 $41,386

* All figures in 2005 inflation-adjusted dollars, except where noted. Source: Census Bureau

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Median Income (Women)

1965 $9,533 (33% of men)
1975 $12,697 (38% of men)
1985 $27,720 (65% of men)
1995 $27,990 (71% of men)
2005 $31.858 (77% of men)

Source:Census Bureau

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Income Share of Middle 60% of Wage Earners

1965 52.3%
1975 52.1%
1985 50.4%
1995 47.6%
2005 46.2%

Source:Census Bureau

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Household Net Worth

1965 $254,740
1975 $268,234
1985 $292,143
1995 $345,321
2005 $465,970

Source: Moody's Economy.com

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Personal Savings Rate

1965 8.5%
1975 10.5%
1985 11%
1995 5%
2005 -0.4%

Source:Commerce Department

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Misery Index (Inflation Plus Unemployment)

1965 6.1%
1975 17.7%
1985 10.7%
1995 8.4%
2005 8.5%

Source: miseryindex.us

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Top Federal Tax Rate

1965 70%
1975 70%
1985 31%
1995 40%
2005 35%

Source:taxpolicycenter.org