By Edith Loyola 
The median household income in the United States, adjusted for inflation, increased last year to approximate its 2019 level. This surpassed the biggest price increase in four decades and restored purchasing power for the majority of Americans.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the proportion of Americans living in poverty slightly decreased last year, reaching 11.1%, down from 11.5% in 2022.
However, the gender pay gap widened for the first time in more than two decades. In 2023, men’s earnings grew more than women’s, leading to a disadvantageous relationship for women in terms of median salary compared to men.
Additionally, the Census reported that the median household income, adjusted for inflation, rose by 4% to $80,610 in 2023, up from $77,450 in 2022. According to officials, this marks the first increase since 2019, remaining essentially unchanged compared to that year’s figure of $81,210.
Regarding this, the Deputy Director of the Census Bureau’s Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division, Liana Fox, commented: “We’re back to the pre-COVID-19 peak that we experienced.”
Likewise, it is expected that next week, economists will report that inflation fell to 2.6% in August from 2.9% in July. Additionally, the Federal Reserve, as several analysts anticipate, will begin reducing interest rates in the coming week.
On the other hand, the data also highlighted another concerning reality: the gender pay gap increased significantly. Men’s earnings surpassed women’s, rolling back decades of progress toward pay equality.
It is important to note that these data are based on pre-tax income, including benefit programs like Social Security. However, they exclude non-cash benefits such as food stamps and Medicaid.