Ridiculous claim!

from
https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/middle-class-minimum-income-wa

Here's the minimum annual income required to be middle class in Washington
By Tyler Slauson and FOX 13 News StaffPublished March 26, 2024 9:20am PDTSeattleFOX 13 Seattle

A recent study determined the minimum annual income required for a
family of four to be considered middle class in each state.

The middle class is capturing a lower share of income than in the 1960s,
1970s, and 1980s, according to Oliver Rust, head of product at
independent inflation data aggregator Truflation.

READ MORE: Making $150K is considered 'lower middle class' in these
high-cost US cities

Rust said during an interview with Consumer Affairs that in the two
decades since the mid-2000s, the portion of the country that is middle
class has shrunk from roughly 60%. Instead, there has been a steep
increase at the extreme bottom and top of the economic spectrum.

Inflation has surged in the past few years, peaking at 9% in June 2022.
That means some families who were middle class in 2020 may no longer be
in that category. The Pew Research Center says the share of adults who
live in middle-class households fell from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021.


So what is the minimum annual income required in 2023 for a family of
four to be middle class in Washington?

According to the numbers, you would have to make $73,997 to be
considered middle class in the Evergreen State. That is among the top 10 highest incomes needed of any state.

Consumer Affairs found that number by using a calculator provided by the
Pew Research Center and an inflation calculator provided by the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state tops the list?
Hawaii tops the list, with an annual income of $82,630 required to be considered middle class.

D.C. is tied with New York in second place, at $81,396. New Jersey and
New York are tied for third, and Massachusetts ranks 4th at $76,463.

The bottom five include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, West Virginia and Mississippi, with only $60,431 needed to be considered middle class in
the Magnolia State.

The nation’s median household income was $70,784 in 2021, according to
census data.

Another study from SmartAsset revealed that it takes the most money to
live comfortably as a single person in New York City, requiring $66.62
in hourly wages, or an annual salary of $138,570. New York's also one of
six U.S. cities where a family must make over $300k to raise two kids comfortably: $318,406, to be exact.

MORE FOX 13 SEATTLE NEWS
Teens found shot and killed off I-5 were 'best friends,' family says

Inslee signs 'Strippers' Bill of Rights' into law

Kingdome imploded 24 years ago, today

Diddy’s $40M Los Angeles house has grotto, underwater tunnel and more: Reports

13-year-old arrested for sexual assault of 9-year-old in Bellevue

To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign
up for the daily FOX 13 Seattle newsletter.

FOX 5 DC and FOX 5 NY contributed to this report.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)