Quote:The old saying still applies, as we are now leaning hard into the 2026 election season: "It's the economy, stupid." Indeed, people do vote their pocketbooks, and economic concerns are a major factor in every election.

On Wednesday, some news from the U.S. Census Bureau should have some Republicans in Congress and in the Trump administration smiling just a little bit; in 2025, according to the report, real median household income rose in 2025, while poverty fell. That's good news.

Americans’ inflation-adjusted incomes rose and poverty declined in 2025, according to new Census Bureau data released Tuesday, as the Federal Reserve meets to decide whether inflation still requires higher interest rates.

Real median household income rose by 2.6% to $87,460 last year, the Census Bureau reported as part of a suite of data releases Tuesday. The poverty rate fell by a nearly half-point to 10.2%. The poverty threshold for a family of four last year was $32,970.

Granted, that's 2025; these reports don't assemble themselves overnight, and it will not be until well after the 2026 midterm elections that we get an update. These indications are good - but there's one problem remaining: Fuel prices.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent celebrated the data, which were released as he was testifying to a House committee about the economy. The Census Bureau data are “several inconvenient facts” for the Trump administration’s political opponents, he said.

Democrats used the committee hearing to assail Bessent over high gas prices and other economic strains. The average rate for new 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose above 7% last week. Prices increases by 3.4% in August from the year before, as measured by consumer price index.

The numbers remain better than at the midpoint of the Biden administration.

Here's the onion: The two parties measure success in this arena very differently. Take the social welfare policies around the poverty rate discussion; the census report notes that SNAP enrollment, for example, has dropped and is expected to drop further as 1) the economy continues to rebound, and 2) tightened standards and the crackdown on fraud takes effect. But while the Left judges the success of these programs by how many people are enrolled - and mind you, the left doesn't care too much about the enrollees being citizens or ever in the country legally - the right judges success by the number of people who no longer need them. And that would seem to be what's happening.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that spending on food stamps, known as SNAP, will fall by $211 billion through 2035 years as a result of the law because fewer people will be eligible for nutrition assistance.

Gas, diesel, home heating oil, and natural gas prices will be a major factor in these midterm elections, and yes, they are expensive right now, in large part because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. But this census report has given Republican candidates a counter: Tangible, quantifiable measures of success in the economy, delivered by a Republican Congress and a Republican administration. That's not just a talking point. These are facts. This is hard data. And facts, as we regularly point out, are stubborn things.

This is the message.

You can see the report from the Census Bureau along with their data here.

Link

Prog filth dont care

MSM? Nope.

A.I. Apocalypse.
Tariffs.
Ballroom Construction.
Blue Wave Midterms.
TDS.
Epstein.
A.I. Apocalypse.
Tariffs.
Ballroom Construction.
Blue Wave Midterms.
TDS.
Epstein.
A.I. Apocalypse.
Tariffs
Ballroom Construction.
Blue Wave Midterms.
TDS.
Epstein.

[Repeat infinitum]

(09-17-2026 08:48 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  MSM? Nope.

A.I. Apocalypse.
Tariffs.
Ballroom Construction.
Blue Wave Midterms.
TDS.
Epstein.
A.I. Apocalypse.
Tariffs.
Ballroom Construction.
Blue Wave Midterms.
TDS.
Epstein.
A.I. Apocalypse.
Tariffs
Ballroom Construction.
Blue Wave Midterms.
TDS.
Epstein.

[Repeat infinitum]

Operation Mockingbird is in full effect until further notice.

The beatings will continue until morale never improves.

Atlanta Fed anticipates GDP growth of 5.1% in Q3.

Someone’s been getting new stuff.

I don’t know how much of a raise everyone else is noticing, but it would be nice if wages caught up with our new import taxes, federal debt, and rising prices.

(09-17-2026 09:07 PM)Gitanole Wrote:  Someone’s been getting new stuff.

I don’t know how much of a raise everyone else is noticing, but it would be nice if wages caught up with our new import taxes, federal debt, and rising prices.

Stupid people don't get raises

(09-18-2026 02:08 AM)shere khan Wrote:  

(09-17-2026 09:07 PM)Gitanole Wrote:  Someone’s been getting new stuff.

I don’t know how much of a raise everyone else is noticing, but it would be nice if wages caught up with our new import taxes, federal debt, and rising prices.

Stupid people don't get raises

Leftists don't get raises.

FIFY

(09-17-2026 09:05 PM)banker Wrote:  Atlanta Fed anticipates GDP growth of 5.1% in Q3.

Wrong. Not the Atlanta Fed. I covered this in the other thread. They just report a figure from a group that makes no adjustments to economic data. It's not a prediction from the Atlanta Fed. Also, the other feds do similar things, but theirs makes adjustments. Two of them have the growth rate around 2.5%.

(09-18-2026 07:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-17-2026 09:05 PM)banker Wrote:  Atlanta Fed anticipates GDP growth of 5.1% in Q3.

Wrong. Not the Atlanta Fed. I covered this in the other thread. They just report a figure from a group that makes no adjustments to economic data. It's not a prediction from the Atlanta Fed. Also, the other feds do similar things, but there's makes adjustments. Two of them have the growth rate around 2.5%.

Well, all things being considered, that isn't bad.

Back to the OP. The inflation-adjusted income has increased pretty much every year of our existence with the exception of major issues. The only recent dips were around 2005-2008 during the Bush economic collapse and then again after Covid.

(09-18-2026 07:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-17-2026 09:05 PM)banker Wrote:  Atlanta Fed anticipates GDP growth of 5.1% in Q3.

Wrong. Not the Atlanta Fed. I covered this in the other thread. They just report a figure from a group that makes no adjustments to economic data. It's not a prediction from the Atlanta Fed. Also, the other feds do similar things, but there's makes adjustments. Two of them have the growth rate around 2.5%.

Well, all things being considered, that isn't bad.

It's not great. And it's below Biden numbers.

Plus:
4th quarter 2025 - .5% growth
1st quarter 2026 - 2.1% growth
2nd quarter 2026 - 1.5% growth (Second estimate)

The 3rd estimate for the 2nd quarter will be out end of month.

(09-18-2026 07:45 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-17-2026 09:05 PM)banker Wrote:  Atlanta Fed anticipates GDP growth of 5.1% in Q3.

Wrong. Not the Atlanta Fed. I covered this in the other thread. They just report a figure from a group that makes no adjustments to economic data. It's not a prediction from the Atlanta Fed. Also, the other feds do similar things, but there's makes adjustments. Two of them have the growth rate around 2.5%.

Well, all things being considered, that isn't bad.

It's not great. And it's below Biden numbers.

Plus:
4th quarter 2025 - .5% growth
1st quarter 2026 - 2.1% growth
2nd quarter 2026 - 1.5% growth (Second estimate)

The 3rd estimate for the 2nd quarter will be out end of month.

lulz, yea, the fed just raised interest rates because they think the economy is going to sputter. That would make it sound like you are a member of the fed board.

(09-18-2026 08:31 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:45 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-17-2026 09:05 PM)banker Wrote:  Atlanta Fed anticipates GDP growth of 5.1% in Q3.

Wrong. Not the Atlanta Fed. I covered this in the other thread. They just report a figure from a group that makes no adjustments to economic data. It's not a prediction from the Atlanta Fed. Also, the other feds do similar things, but there's makes adjustments. Two of them have the growth rate around 2.5%.

Well, all things being considered, that isn't bad.

It's not great. And it's below Biden numbers.

Plus:
4th quarter 2025 - .5% growth
1st quarter 2026 - 2.1% growth
2nd quarter 2026 - 1.5% growth (Second estimate)

The 3rd estimate for the 2nd quarter will be out end of month.

lulz, yea, the fed just raised interest rates because they think the economy is going to sputter. That would make it sound like you are a member of the fed board.

Do you STILL not know how to read? The fed said directly in their report that the rise was due to sustained inflation.

And where did I, the fed, or anyone say the economy was going to sputter?

(09-18-2026 08:46 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 08:31 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:45 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  Wrong. Not the Atlanta Fed. I covered this in the other thread. They just report a figure from a group that makes no adjustments to economic data. It's not a prediction from the Atlanta Fed. Also, the other feds do similar things, but there's makes adjustments. Two of them have the growth rate around 2.5%.

Well, all things being considered, that isn't bad.

It's not great. And it's below Biden numbers.

Plus:
4th quarter 2025 - .5% growth
1st quarter 2026 - 2.1% growth
2nd quarter 2026 - 1.5% growth (Second estimate)

The 3rd estimate for the 2nd quarter will be out end of month.

lulz, yea, the fed just raised interest rates because they think the economy is going to sputter. That would make it sound like you are a member of the fed board.

Do you STILL not know how to read? The fed said directly in their report that the rise was due to sustained inflation.

And where did I, the fed, or anyone say the economy was going to sputter?

core inflation was already dropping. It had been dropping for the past 3 months. Core inflation is now lower than any point going back to March 2021, where Trump handed Biden* a low core inflation rate and he decided to pay people trillions to not work and immediately shot up.

(09-18-2026 04:55 AM)BirdHawkEagle Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 02:08 AM)shere khan Wrote:  

(09-17-2026 09:07 PM)Gitanole Wrote:  Someone’s been getting new stuff.

I don’t know how much of a raise everyone else is noticing, but it would be nice if wages caught up with our new import taxes, federal debt, and rising prices.

Stupid people don't get raises

Leftists don't get raises.

FIFY

They have to work first.

(09-18-2026 07:45 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-17-2026 09:05 PM)banker Wrote:  Atlanta Fed anticipates GDP growth of 5.1% in Q3.

Wrong. Not the Atlanta Fed. I covered this in the other thread. They just report a figure from a group that makes no adjustments to economic data. It's not a prediction from the Atlanta Fed. Also, the other feds do similar things, but there's makes adjustments. Two of them have the growth rate around 2.5%.

Well, all things being considered, that isn't bad.

It's not great. And it's below Biden numbers.

Plus:
4th quarter 2025 - .5% growth
1st quarter 2026 - 2.1% growth
2nd quarter 2026 - 1.5% growth (Second estimate)

The 3rd estimate for the 2nd quarter will be out end of month.

It's not bad considering everyone idiot on social media is saying the economy is tanking. It's not bad at all.

(09-18-2026 09:23 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  ...trump handed Biden* a low core inflation rate and he decided to pay people trillions to not work and immediately shot up.

You're either ignorant or just plain lying.

1. It was not immediate.
2. There were TONS of factors to the increase...many of which didn't have one ******* thing to do with Biden. Outside of the 3rd stimulus, the inflation drivers were Covid recovery, trumps stimulus, OPEC 2020 deal that didn't end until mid 2022, and Russia invading Ukraine.

Just stop with this. We know what's going on and you're not this stupid. We get it, you have to defend trump at all costs. How sad.

(09-18-2026 09:24 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:45 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-17-2026 09:05 PM)banker Wrote:  Atlanta Fed anticipates GDP growth of 5.1% in Q3.

Wrong. Not the Atlanta Fed. I covered this in the other thread. They just report a figure from a group that makes no adjustments to economic data. It's not a prediction from the Atlanta Fed. Also, the other feds do similar things, but there's makes adjustments. Two of them have the growth rate around 2.5%.

Well, all things being considered, that isn't bad.

It's not great. And it's below Biden numbers.

Plus:
4th quarter 2025 - .5% growth
1st quarter 2026 - 2.1% growth
2nd quarter 2026 - 1.5% growth (Second estimate)

The 3rd estimate for the 2nd quarter will be out end of month.

It's not bad considering everyone idiot on social media is saying the economy is tanking. It's not bad at all.

What on earth are you doing listening to idiots on social media? The economy is fine, but it's anything but great. Many get fooled by Wall Street (DOW) and not Main Street.

You know that these continual rising costs of diesel and gas are going to start driving costs in the coming months. Just listen to truck drivers. Their fuel costs have doubled in just about 3 months time.

(09-18-2026 10:11 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 09:24 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:45 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:36 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(09-18-2026 07:34 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  Wrong. Not the Atlanta Fed. I covered this in the other thread. They just report a figure from a group that makes no adjustments to economic data. It's not a prediction from the Atlanta Fed. Also, the other feds do similar things, but there's makes adjustments. Two of them have the growth rate around 2.5%.

Well, all things being considered, that isn't bad.

It's not great. And it's below Biden numbers.

Plus:
4th quarter 2025 - .5% growth
1st quarter 2026 - 2.1% growth
2nd quarter 2026 - 1.5% growth (Second estimate)

The 3rd estimate for the 2nd quarter will be out end of month.

It's not bad considering everyone idiot on social media is saying the economy is tanking. It's not bad at all.

What on earth are you doing listening to idiots on social media? The economy is fine, but it's anything but great. Many get fooled by Wall Street (DOW) and not Main Street.

You know that these continual rising costs of diesel and gas are going to start driving costs in the coming months. Just listen to truck drivers. Their fuel costs have doubled in just about 3 months time.

lol, I include this message board when I'm talking about social media. Take that how you may.