Average Income Remains Below 2000 Level

Average US income in 2005 remained below the 2000 peak (adjusted for inflation) according to IRS data, and the top 0.25% taxpayer group (those making more than $1 million) "reaped almost 47 percent of the total income gains in 2005, compared with 2000."

The reason 2000 is a considered a base year by analysts is that "[t]otal income listed on tax returns grew every year after World War II, with a single one-year exception, until 2001."

Bill Clinton's presidential campaign capitalized on economic unease (It's the economy, stupid) when he unseated George H.W. Bush in 1992.

Obviously, most Americans felt something else was more important than average income in 2004. Will that be the case in 2008?