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"I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that wages for blue collar workers have gone down over the last 10-15 years? I know as the wife of a machinist we were (for God knows what reason) making more money when Clinton was in office than we are now, and I don’t understand that at all..."

You are using anecdotal evidence to make a point, one which is patently untrue since real wages have increased during the relevant periods in the Bush and Clinton Admin's.

********************************************************* "In terms of equivalent starting points, it makes sense to compare 1993-1996 with 2003-2006 — two cyclically similar periods of equal duration.

Growth of real gross domestic product (GDP) in those periods was identical, at 3.23 percent a year. That's a tie. Nearly all other measures favor the past four years over Clinton's first term. Unemployment was 5.3 percent from 2003 to 2006, but 6 percent from 1993 to 1996. Sperling mentioned business investment to avoid mentioning housing investment. Yet business fixed investment was 10.9 percent of GDP from 2003 to 2006, compared with 9.2 percent of GDP from 1993 to 1996.

When it comes to inflation, Bush faced a huge increase in worldwide oil prices, but Clinton did not. In the consumer price index that excludes energy prices, inflation averaged 2.1 percent in the past four years, down from 2.9 percent in 1993-96.

When calculating real incomes, however, nominal increases in wage and benefits are reduced by total inflation, including higher energy prices. This would seem to put the past four years at a big disadvantage, given the spike in energy prices. Yet it turns out that "wage growth" in the first Clinton term was nothing to brag about. Even after including benefits, real compensation per hour fell by 0.5 percent in 1993, by 0.4 percent in 1994 and by another 0.3 percent in 1995. Real hourly wages and benefits increased by 1.2 percent a year from 2003 to 2006, but fell by 0.1 percent a year from 1993 to 1996.

Thanks for taking the time to ‘spell’ out the numbers. I appreciate it greatly vs. people just dismissing me out-of-hand saying rather it’s “our own fault”. I do understand that some have experienced the opposite since Bush has gotten into office. [I think for us personally it was more a problem due to 9/11 and my husband’s company folding due to others pulling contracts out of fear, as well as living in an area with poor prevailing wages.]

You’re totally right, I was using anecdotal evidence in the way of personal experience which I understand is not necessarily reflective upon the general population. I apologize for letting my anger over our personal situation get in the way of my usually level-headed thinking. Still, I will say that the prevailing wages for machinists in many areas around the country have fallen — most likely due to outsourcing.

Just because hourly wages in service industries, and salaries in high tech fields have advanced doesn’t mean that all have enjoyed the same prosperity, and indeed some of the over-inflated wages in these areas would (in my opinion) skew the outcome of these studies.

Honestly though a 1.2% wage increase isn’t that much... $.012 on the dollar is not what I’d call a good raise. Also, if for example, wages in high-tech fields have risen say 2% over the last 4 years, but service industry wages have fallen 1% over the last four years, would that not still average out to an increase in wages? If so, then these numbers are not a good indicator of overall growth. Also, if wages in one area of the country have risen, but in other areas of the country they have fallen would they not perhaps cancel each other out and give the appearance of remaining steady?

I will readily admit economics is not my field of study, nor do I hold any expertise in this area. Then again, neither does the average person.

If our government wishes to help the average person understand how things are better off now (if they can’t see it themselves), it might help to include some real world examples besides using numbers and comparisons that only students of finance will completely understand. Perhaps breaking down the gains per industry for example, or listing the increase in prevailing wages per industry?

[I do realize there is a huge problem with the MSM failing to point out achievements, small or large when it has to do with Republicans...]