Affluent Households Still Fastest-Growing Segment

The number of affluent houses was still growing as of 2008 – and in fact was the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population according to Unity Marketing in its analysis of U.S. Census Department statistics released Sept. 11, 2009.
Affluent households, defined as those with incomes of more than $100,000, remains the fastest growing segment based on income. From 2006 through 2008 affluent households increased 8.4%, from 22.2 million in 2006 to 24.0 million in 2008.

Households with incomes of $250,000 and above showed significant growth of 10.5%, from 2.2 million to 2.5 million from 2006 to 2008.

The number of households making 50k or less decreased slightly, but still account for half the households in the United States.
Number of households in each income category:
•    $24,999 or less: 29,024,000 (down from 29,306,000 in 2006); making up 24.8% of all households in 2008
•    $25,000 to $49,999: 29,165,000 (down from 30,279,000 in 2006); 24.9% of all households
•    $50,000 to $74,999: 20,977,000 (down from 21,150,000 in 2006); 17.9% of all households
•    $75,000 to $99,999: 14,004,000 (up from 13,124,000 in 2006); 12% of all households
•    $100,000 to $149,999 (Comfortable affluents): 14,286,000 (up from 13,385,000 in 2006); 12.2% of all households
•    $150,000 to $199,999 (Super-affluents): 5,250,000 (up from 4,751,000 in 2006); 4.5% of all households
•    $200,000 to $249,999 (Super-affluents): 2,001,000 (up from 1,776,000 in 2006); 1.7% of all households
•    $250,000 and above (Ultra-affluents): 2,476,000 (up from 2,240,000 in 2006); 2.1% of all households
•    All Households: 117,183,000 (up 1.0% from 116,011,000 in 2006)

Source: Unity Marketing/ U.S. Census Department