Why do people consistently say that the economy is still not doing well?

Question

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Forbes/TheAverageAmericanAt300Million.aspx?GT1=8618&wa=wsignin1.0

According to this, the average median familiy is making more than the rate of inflation has been increasing from almost 40 years ago

Answer 1

The economy is always a mixed bag. Focus too narrowly and you can prove just about anything.

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-pOypG0szd7Pv_X1rQxw_4qCWpA--?cq=1&p=231

Answer 2

You may think the economy is doing great. Maybe it is for you. You want some truthful answers, talk to employees at Ford, GM, and many others. Statistics are only accurate if all aspects of economy are factored in. What's wrong with the theory you provide, is that of course the average median family is making more money than the inflation rate of 40 years ago. When you compare what we were making in 1966 to what we are making today, of course that would make the economy seem like it is BOOMING.
These theorists, also do not tell you that when a person runs out of unemployment benefits regardless of whether they have retained a job or not, once those benefits run out, those people are no longer counted in the unemployment rolls. Making it APPEAR that the unemployment rate is LOWER than it actually is. Further, many of those who do return to work, must take a significant CUT in pay, sometimes resulting in the need to get a second job to make ends MEET. So in those instances, one person is COUNTED TWICE. This also skews the accuracy of the estimation.
BTW. What happens when the middle-class falls under the poverty line? Most likely that would place you in the middle, and no longer safe.
The Stock Market is no safe haven either. Those at the top will soon be profit-taking at the cost of many naive investors. They have the inside scoop and will be protecting themselves, NOT YOU.

Answer 3

But families 40 years ago didn't have so many expenses vs their income. Few families had 2 cars, let alone several, plus insurance on them. People didn't used to have computers. People used to be able to live on the income of one breadwinner. Not anymore. The cost of electricity keeps going up. In my area it will probably double this year. When the the price of gas went up, it caused a ripple effect where the cost of other goods also went up, and since the price of gas has gone down some, the price of the other goods had not gone down in a corresponding fashion.

But I have to add that I do not think that the economy is aweful either. The last time I saw (couple of days ago) the stock market was up. But there is also a certain amount of uncertainty in the world, which makes people thing things are not doing well.

Answer 4

Screw inflation they don`t even figure gas and food in inflation. I don`t know about you but gas and food cost are in my middle class inflation. You want to talk economy lets talk about how the same median family saves 2% less then in 2000 and record numbers of bankruptcy's and a cash advance store on every block. The real issue is the gap between the rich and poor compared to the today with the 60s and 70s when the average middle class family could have one parent stay home if they want and still put food on the table or the parents can be home when the kids come home and is able to spend more time with them before they shoot up the school.

Answer 5

The only people not doing well in this economy are those not willing to work or those not willing to move from a bad area or those just too darn lazy.
I am not rich but our family income has gone up 40% since 2000.
My husband's employees average an extra $6-$10 an hour during that same time. My housing has stayed the same since I own. Home ownership hit an all time high in 2003 thanks to new federal down payment programs. Inflation is almost nonexistent.
The federal debt was set in motion years ago from past Presidents spending.
All of my friends & most of my husband's employees would say "LIFE IS GOOD".

Answer 6

Wel the government does have a way of making people think they are living well by providing good houses for the middle americans. Houses to keep em content. Yeh the economy sucks, lost my life savings aabout 5 yrs ago in stocks and none of them have gone up. SO there you go. We are doing better than 40 yrs ago. However not 20 yrs ago. More moeny is made each home, but lets ot forget more day care is needed $$. More kids are being neglected. Yet both parents have to work to get by. SO probably why there are more prisons. hmm Shall we get a Govt grant and do a study on all this??

Answer 7

Economic surveys are not taken out in the real world. They are taken from paperwork, not from interveiwing real people out in the world. These @ssholes have no ideal what's going on in the real world nor does a person who is lucky enough to have a good paying job. They seem to think because they have it made then everyone esle does. This type of uninfromed person is called a Republican. Just because a person is down on luck does not mean they are lazy or worthless.

Answer 8

The economy is kicking-butt! Everyone knows that the big three media outlets are licking the Democrats butts. The stock market is hitting record highs, but you'll never hear it from the big three.

It's all about the war, and it's not going well. Just ask the big three?

Well, the big three are being replaced. I no longer listen to them, and Fox news is replacing them very swiftly. Go there to find the truth about the economy.

Answer 9

Over the past five years real wages have not increased for the average American. They have only increased for the top 1%. Corporations are making more money, but the employees are not.

Answer 10

Its based on many factors, not just money. In my opinion, when I look at the economy, I think inflation has something to do with it. The fact that stable gas prices are and gas supplies are unknown. Who's the leader of the nation. All this I think scares the anaylists, fear of whats going to come in the future.

Answer 11

Becuase there are many people out of jobs and there are hardly any jobs available. The ones that are available are low paying jobs that will be enough for a teenager but not for a family person.
Also, the prices of items are going up yet the pay isnt. Many people try to save money but it is difficult when there are a lot of bills to pay just to survive.