Broad rise in wealth has boosted most US households since 2020 and helped sustain economic growth

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The net worth of the typical U.S. household grew at the fastest pace in more than three decades from 2019 through 2022, while low interest rates made it easier for households to pay their debts. Wealth for the median household — the midpoint between the richest and poorest households — jumped 37% during those three years, the Federal Reserve reported, to nearly $193,000. (The figures are adjusted for inflation.) The increase reflected primarily a jump in home values and higher stock prices and a rise in the proportion of Americans who own homes and stocks. The increased wealth helps explain the surprising durability of the economy this year and the consumer spending that powers about two-thirds of it.