May 1, 2022 

Continuing its recent pattern of elevated readings, our initial estimate of the Q1 Staying Even Index (based upon the US Advance Q1 GDP report) clocked in at 10.4%, accelerating from the 2021 full year reading of 9.7%.

The 10.4% change in the Q1 2021 Staying Even Index (SEI) is based upon reported year on year nominal GDP growth of 10.6% and estimated annual population growth of 0.2%.

These estimates suggest that individuals whose year-to-date 2022 total income from all sources (after tax wages and other income) grew by more than 10.4% from the same period in 2021 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. Q1 year-on-year inflation was 8.0%, showing yet again that raises that just keep up with inflation are not sufficient to stay even in the growing 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.

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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.