Median household income fell last year as inflation remains high

Real U.S. median household income fell slightly in 2021 compared to the previous year, while inflation during the same time period increased 4.7%, according to data published Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The agency said real median household income last year was down about $400, making it "not statistically different than 2020."

From 2020 to 2021, inflation rose 4.7%, marking the largest cost-of-living increase since 1990, data shows.

The official poverty rate increased by 0.1%, putting it at 11.6%, which the Census Bureau said is "not statistically different between 2020 and 2021."

Data for 2022 is not available, but the Census Bureau published the report on the same day as the Consumer Price Index, which shows that costs have increased 8.3% from last year.