From Boy, Have We Got an Inequality Problem: "After-tax income of the bottom 20% grew 6%, or 1,800overtheseyears(19792005,in2005dollars);themiddleclassgained1,800 over these years (1979-2005, in 2005 dollars) ; the middle-class gained 11,000, up 21%, over these 26 years. The average income of the top 1%, more than tripled, up 228%, for a gain $781,000."