A measure of Americans’ inflation-adjusted household income has dipped for the first time since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last January.
According to a newly updated estimate from Motio Research, a U.S. economy-focused think tank, the Real Median Household Income Index dropped 0.3 percent in December 2025 to 118.6 from 119 in November. The index has steadily risen since early 2023—having fallen from its 2020 peak—and December’s drop, Motio notes, is the first month-to-month decline since January 2025.
Real median household income now stands at $86,820, according to a research note from the group, shared with Newsweek.
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By Hugh Cameron — U.S. News Reporter |
A measure of Americans’ inflation-adjusted household income has dipped for the first time since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last January.
According to a newly updated estimate from Motio Research, a U.S. economy-focused think tank, the Real Median Household Income Index dropped 0.3 percent in December 2025 to 118.6 from 119 in November. The index has steadily risen since early 2023—having fallen from its 2020 peak—and December’s drop, Motio notes, is the first month-to-month decline since January 2025.
Real median household income now stands at $86,820, according to a research note from the group, shared with Newsweek.
Read more: [https://www.newsweek.com/real-income-drops-first-time-under-trump-11424974](https://www.newsweek.com/real-income-drops-first-time-under-trump-11424974)