Quote from: K-Dog on Nov 03, 2025, 09:39 PMQuote from: TDoS on Nov 03, 2025, 07:06 PMEconomic growth, prosperity, even with idiot politicians in charge.
The standard of living for the median American has declined by 31.7% since 2008.
A median in a skewed distribution, how trickstery! But to be honest....need to know how "standard of living" is calculated.
This is what my AI told me about standard of living since 2008.
The American standard of living has improved overall since 2008, driven by gains in life expectancy and education, but this progress has been accompanied by a significant increase in income inequality and a slowdown in the pace of improvement for low- and middle-income Americans.
Key Indicators of the Standard of Living
Economic Growth: The U.S. economy experienced a long expansion after the Great Recession, with average annual GDP growth, though the pace of improvement in consumer spending power slowed considerably to about 0.4 percent per year between 2007 and 2015.
Median Household Income: Real (inflation-adjusted) median household income has seen an overall increase, reaching new highs in recent years after initial declines during and immediately after the recession. However, the gains have been unevenly distributed, with higher-income households seeing larger percentage gains than lower-income households, contributing to increased inequality.
Poverty Rate: The poverty rate initially increased during the Great Recession, reversing some gains from the late 1990s.
Life Expectancy: Health outcomes have generally improved, with most states seeing an increase in life expectancy over the last decade, though the rate of improvement has slowed slightly in some areas.
Education: Educational attainment has seen broad improvements across the country, with increases in high school and college degree attainment rates in most states, which typically leads to better long-term outcomes.
Cost of Living and Wages: A significant challenge has been the divergence between wage growth and the cost of essential goods like housing and healthcare, with these costs inflating at a higher rate than wages for the bottom 60% of earners. This means many working- and middle-class Americans feel "left behind" despite overall positive economic metrics.
Perception: Public perception shifted from general concern during the recession, when many felt their standard of living was getting worse, to more positive expectations in the years following, although satisfaction with the current standard of living has remained relatively stable over time.
So...how where did your 31.7% come from? I required more than some number from wherever from my AI, turn your AI loose on my AI's explanation, I'd really like them to iron this out for us.