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September 8, 2026 Investor Insights Thumbnail

September 8, 2026 Investor Insights

Investor Insights

Shrinking Middle Class

September 8, 2026

Enjoy this week's "Investor Insights," a weekly newsletter that highlights the financial news you need and provides tips and tricks for making better investment decisions. 

 

  • The richest 1% of U.S. households now control 31.6% of U.S. wealth, up from 22.9% in 1989. Meanwhile, the middle-class share of wealth fell from 35.7% to 29.6%, and the bottom 50% fell from 3.4% to 2.5%. *1
  • 72% of U.S. adults feel at least some guilt when spending on fun instead of financial goals, including 20% who report high guilt. Despite this emotional struggle, 68% say they spend the right amount on enjoyment. 2
  • 95.7% of businesses using AI reported no change in employment, while 2.3% increased and 2.0% decreased employment. Among AI users, 44% say AI enhances existing work, while only 10% say it performs tasks previously done by employees. 3
  • 38.3% of 28-year-old Gen Zers owned a home in 2025, compared with 42.5% of Gen Xers and 44.4% of baby boomers at the same age. At age 36, homeownership was 57.2% for Millennials, compared with 61.2% for Gen Xers and 63.7% for boomers, highlighting the affordability challenges younger generations face. 4

Sources:

  1. Barron’s – “Unions Help Build the Middle Class. They Have Been Losing Strength for Decades.”
  2. Bloomberg – “Americans Say They Feel Guilty About Spending Money on Fun”
  3. Marginal Revolution – “AI and Employment: So Far, So Good”
  4. Redfin – “More Gen Zers are Buying Homes. But It’s a Trickle, Not a Flood.”

*Past performance is not indicative of future performance

Disclosure: This information is furnished for the use of Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC, Glen Eagle Wealth, LLC, and their clients and/or contacts. It does not constitute the provision of investment advice to any person. It is not prepared with respect to the specific objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any specific person. Investors reading this commentary should consult with their Glen Eagle representative/financial advisor regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or adapting any investment strategies discussed or recommended in this newsletter. 

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