Trending Now - Upper-middle Class Emerges as America’s Dominant Income Tier

WHO:

Inc - Economists conducted a study on income tiers in the United States.

WHAT:

Entrepreneur - The upper middle class has transformed the market, influencing what businesses sell and who their target customers are.

Inc - The share of families classified as upper-middle class has nearly tripled since 1979.

CBS News US - The upper-middle class is now the largest income group in the United States.

WHERE:

CBS News US - The findings pertain to households across the United States.

WHEN:

Inc - The study compares data from 1979 to the present year, 2026.

CBS News US - The research indicates trends observed in recent years leading up to 2026.

WHY:

CBS News US - The middle class is shrinking not due to a decrease in wealth but because more households are moving up the income ladder.

HOW:

Inc - The study analyzed income data to determine the changes in class structure over time.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 19:21 UTC)

The upper middle class is reshaping the market by significantly influencing what businesses sell and who their target customers are. This transformation reflects changing consumer preferences and spending habits. As a result, companies are adapting their strategies to meet the evolving demands of this demographic.

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(UPDATED April 7, 2026 17:24 UTC)

A new study reveals that the share of families classified as upper-middle class in the United States has nearly tripled since 1979, making it the largest income group in the country. The research, which compares data from 1979 to 2026, shows that the middle class is shrinking not because of a decrease in wealth, but because more households are moving up the income ladder. This analysis of income data highlights significant changes in class structure across households nationwide in recent years.