[raziel2p]

the per capita version of your graph: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/A229RX0

it claims that the average person has 50k usd in disposable yearly income - there's no way that's after housing and other non optional expenses have been accounted for.

using this measurement, if wages go up 5% but rent goes up 50%, it would still look as if people have more money to spend than before.

[fulafel]

If you consider most of this going to rich people it's more understandable. Per capita doesn't try to describe the average person.