We’re excited to introduce two new monthly series of U.S. household income estimates that provide a unique monthly gauge of U.S. household income distribution. In December 2023, we launched a monthly series of median household income data. Today, we are launching the 25th and 75th percentiles household income series.
In this release, we’ll focus on the trajectory of the series after 2020. The real median household income in the U.S. surpassed its pre-Covid peak in March 2024. The significant increase in June 2024 consolidates a sustained recovery that began in June 2023, after months of relative stagnation since early 2021. With a dollar value of $79,090, the U.S. real median household income in June 2024 is 1% higher than the pre-Covid peak value of $78,314 from February 2020.
The real 25th percentile household income series shows a similar pattern of relative stagnation from early 2021 to mid-2023. Following a plateau below the pre-Covid peak since August 2023, the 25th percentile series reached its pre-Covid peak value in June 2024, several months later than the median. In short, the 25th percentile series has shown a weaker performance relative to the median series so far. With a dollar value of $41,127, the U.S. real 25th percentile household income in June 2024 is virtually identical to the pre-Covid peak value observed in February 2020.
The 75th percentile series exhibits the strongest recovery among the three. After a comparatively short period of stagnation at relatively low values in 2021, it surged and surpassed the pre-Covid peak value in January 2022. After showing consistent growth over the last four months, it now stands significantly above its pre-Covid peak. With a dollar value of $145,988, the U.S. real 75th percentile household income in June 2024 is 3.4% higher than the pre-Covid peak value of $141,206, reported in February 2020.
These new series offer, for the first time, the opportunity to keep track of the dynamics of household income distribution in the United States on a monthly basis. We are committed to delivering accurate, timely, and comprehensive data and analysis to provide a thorough understanding of these trends.