Americans’ incomes and net worth surged after the pandemic, the Federal Reserve announced in a report covering 2022‑2025.
Real median family income rose 7 percent to $82,200, the central bank reported, while the bottom 60 percent of earners posted up to 7 percent gains; the top 10 percent saw a 6 percent decline.
Household wealth grew 2 percent to nearly $216,000, with most income groups recording increases, the Fed said.
“Wealth changes reinforced existing inequality: young families, renters and those without a high school diploma experienced median and mean declines,” the report noted.
Families near the top—high‑income households, older owners and asset holders—recorded the largest wealth gains, the data showed.
The Fed’s triennial Survey of Consumer Finances, released Oct. 9, surveyed more than 4,000 households and captured the latest financial snapshot.
Asset Ownership
Homeownership held steady at 66 percent, and median home equity rose to $230,000, up from below $219,000 in 2022.
Ultra‑low rates after the pandemic created a “golden handcuffs” effect, keeping owners from selling and boosting home values.
Stock market participation fell to 56 percent in 2025, yet median holdings jumped 36 percent to about $78,000, the Fed reported.
Retirement plan balances also climbed, adding to the net‑worth rise.
Red Ink
Debt remained pervasive, with 77 percent of families carrying any liability and median balances unchanged at $3,100.
Credit‑card delinquency held at 45 percent, while the share of families behind on payments rose to 20 percent, the highest since 2010.
Debt‑payment‑to‑income ratios above 40 percent climbed from 6.5 percent to nearly 9 percent, a decade‑high increase.
“Borrowers appear less fragile when debt scales to assets rather than income,” Fed authors wrote.
BNPL usage surged, with 12 percent of families holding a balance, up from 7 percent in 2022, and providers originating roughly $160 billion in credit, a June Fed paper estimated.
