Between 1979 and 2006, real after-tax incomes rose by 256 percent — or $863,000 — for the top 1 percent of households...

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities just posted this information from the CBO regarding income gaps over the last thirty years. There is a trend one can see regarding income gaps and major recessions/depressions. Trickle down at it's 'best'.



More notes from the piece:

The CBO data also show that between 1979 and 2006:

-The average after-tax income of the top 1 percent of the population more than tripled, from $337,000 to over $1.2 million. As noted, this represented an increase of $863,000, or 256 percent.

-By contrast, the average after-tax income of the middle fifth of the population rose from $42,900 in 1979 to $52,100 in 2006 — a relatively modest gain of $9,200 or 21 percent over a 27-year period.

-The average after-tax income of the poorest fifth of the population rose only from $14,900 to $16,500, an increase of $1,600 or 11 percent. [3]