The Nation : Household Income on Rise

The typical American household brought in $22,646 after taxes in 1985, up 8.9% for the fourth consecutive annual increase, the Census Bureau reported. Household after-tax income rose 8.9% from 1981 to 1985, the report said, after adjusting for inflation. After-tax income for white households in 1985 averaged $23,484, up 0.8% during the year. For black households the average was $15,790, up 2.9%, and Latino households averaged $17,920, down 0.4%. Married couples with children averaged $28,390, up 1.3%. Couples without children averaged $27,712, up 0.6%, and female householders with children but no husband present averaged $13,093, up 3.2%.