We notice you are visiting from a U.S. Internet provider. 
14/02/2012 -
The median household income has jumped 4 percent from August to December, reaching $51,413. An analysis of U.S. Labor Department data shows that this is the biggest increase since the recession started in 2007.Increases are due to a number of contributing factors. For one, many employees have been receiving more hours at work. In addition, some employers have increased wages modestly and job growth has increased.
"These increases stand in sharp contrast to the long downward trend that has defined income change in the post-recessionary period," said Gordon Green said. "They coincide with a period of job growth and a declining unemployment rate."
However, increases were less dramatic than some might expect. Hourly wages have grown by only 2 percent from a year ago and the work week has been lengthened from 34.3 to 34.5 hours.
As inflation decreases from 3.3 to 2.5 percent this year, consumers might be able to free up more spending money in their budgets, Dean Maki, chief U.S. economist for Barclays Capital, told USA Today. He estimates that larger disposable incomes could boost spending by 2.7 percent. As a result, merchants could see an increase in credit card processing.
