[DarkKomunalec]

>I'm not sure how you believe it's possible that consumption is up while compensation is stagnant and prices are higher.

I cited sources with statistics, not my personal beliefs.

But to answer your question - the accounting is explained by an increase in debt (see the businessinsider article I linked earlier), and by the fact that what's spent on education/housing/healthcare, isn't spent elsewhere.

And I'm well aware we're better off than Somalia - that was my point. We don't have to wait until we're not before we start complaining. Should we do nothing but feel guilty we live in decent countries, until there's no-one who's worse off?

[yummyfajitas]

Given that the trend has so far been upward only, why do you believe it will suddenly reverse and take us to Somalia?