May 23, 2021

 After a full year 2020 reading in negative territory (-2.8%), meaning that the US economy shrank on a nominal per capita basis in 2020, SEI began 2021 in positive territory, with a Q1 reading of 1.8%.

The 1.8% change in the Q1 2021 Staying Even Index (SEI) is based upon reported year on year nominal GDP growth of 2.3% and estimated annual population growth of 0.5%.

These projections suggest that individuals whose year-to-date 2021 total income from all sources (after tax wages and other income) grew by more than 1.8% from the same period in 2020 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. As mentioned above, SEI growth for calendar year 2020 was -2.8%, driven by the unusual impacts of COVID-19 on the US economy.

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.

##

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.