00:00U.S. household wealth jumped by $26 trillion, but the benefits have been far from equal.
00:05A Reuters analysis published examines why rising wealth has not eased America's affordability
00:10squeeze. Total household wealth increased 16.5% between the end of the Biden administration
00:17and the second quarter of 2026. Yet the wealthiest 1% captured a larger share of the nation's wealth.
00:24The artificial intelligence investment boom has helped fuel stock market gains,
00:28lifting the value of investments across the economy. But rising asset values do not
00:33automatically make everyday life more affordable. Household spending continues to grow, although
00:39inflation means consumers must spend more just to maintain their purchasing power. That pressure
00:44is especially visible in essentials like ground beef and gasoline. Housing presents an even bigger
00:50challenge. Mortgage rates rose by more than one percentage point over the past year, according
00:55to the report. The result is a widening gap between growing wealth on paper and what many
01:01households can actually afford. Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content
01:05created or enhanced using AI assisted tools.
