Just looked at some data on how middle class income in NYC has shifted over the last decade and it's pretty wild. Back in 2012, you needed somewhere between $38k-$115k annually to be considered middle class here. Fast forward to 2022 and that range jumped to $54k-$162k. That's a 41% increase in what it takes to be middle class income in New York. Nationally it's similar - the minimum jumped from about $35k to $50k in that same span. What's interesting is New York's actually sitting right in the middle compared to other states. Oregon saw bigger jumps (53%), while Alaska barely moved (23%). The whole middle class thing has been shrinking nationwide anyway - fewer people actually qualify these days. Makes you wonder if middle class income definitions will keep climbing or if something's gotta give economically.