November 1, 2020

The initial reading on the Q3 2020 YTD Staying Even Index is -3.2%, incorporating the US Government “Advance” estimate of Q3 GDP, as well as upward revisions to Q2 GDP. The continued slowdown in US economic activity due to COVID-19 has kept the index in negative territory.

Continuing the Q2 patter, YTD Q3 reading of -3.2% is below the YTD plus 1.2% year on year increase in the average consumer price index (CPI) for the period, as GDP declined in absolute terms while population grew.

The -3.2% change in the YTD 2020 Staying Even Index (SEI) is based upon reported YTD year on year nominal GDP growth of -2.7% and estimated annual population growth of 0.5%.

These projections suggest that individuals whose year to date 2020 total income from all sources (after tax wages and other income) grew at all, or declined by less than 3.2%, from 2019 expanded their adjusted share of the U.S. economy, and those whose total income grew by less than this fell behind compared to the prior year. SEI growth for calendar year 2019 was 3.6%.

StayingEven.com will publish updates to these figures as GDP and population estimates are revised. We are dedicated to helping individuals understand what income growth is required to keep up in the U.S. Economy.

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To find out whether you have gotten ahead, try our Staying Even Calculator, and to learn more about the Index, visit us at StayingEven.com. You can also follow us @stayingeven on Twitter.