Estimated Wealth Effects on Annualized Real PCE Growth Should stocks stumble, the positive wealth effect supporting consumption may turn into a headwind during the second half of 2026. After all, consumer sentiment is definitely tied to market performance. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
U.S. Household Wealth Stock market gains over the past six years have boosted U.S. household wealth and powered consumer spending, while also heightening vulnerability if markets fall. Image: Deutsche Bank
Wealth and Spending by Income Quintile in the U.S. The middle 60% of Americans control just 26% of the nation’s wealth but account for more than half of all spending. Whether they can keep it up depends on how long the labor market stays strong. Image: J.P. Morgan Asset Management
U.S. Household Equity Ownership by Wealth Percentile Call it the American Dream or a widening divide. The top 1% now hold about half of U.S. market wealth. The bottom half? Just 1%. The gap has been widening since 1990, and frustration is rising with it. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Share of Net Wealth Generated by Stocks Between 1990 and Mid-2020 Why stock picking is hard? Only 1.5% of all stocks have generated net wealth over the past 30 years. Image: BofA Global Research
Share of Net Wealth Generated by U.S. Stocks This chart shows that only a minority of stocks create value over long periods of time. Image: BofA Global Investment Strategy
S&P 500 vs. Global Wealth and Investment Management Equity as % AUM Global Wealth and Investment Management (GWIM) equity allocation is flat, while the S&P 500 is at all-time high. Image: BofA Global Investment Strategy
Inequality – Concentration of Equities Ownership by Wealth Class in the U.S. The top 1% of households owns equities, while the bottom 50% of households owns real estate. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Inequality – Net Saving by Wealth Class in the U.S. This chart shows that the savings rate for the bottom 90% of the U.S. population is negative since the 1990s. Image: Deutsche Bank Global Research
Total Wealth by Country The United States remains the richest country in the world. Image: howmuch.net
Inequality – Median Wealth of U.S. Families The median value of assets owned by an American family is no higher than it was 20 years ago. Image: PEW Research Center