Hey middle class, we're not talking to you

By Allison Linn

Big retailers and consumer-product companies are responding to what a wide swath of Americans have been struggling with for a while: the fact that the middle class is being squeezed out.

As more middle-class Americans struggle, marketers are pursuing an "hourglass theory," aiming for either the top or bottom of the income ladder,  The Wall Street Journal reports.

Giant marketers like Procter & Gamble are increasingly developing products for lower-income shoppers, like its new Gain dish soap.

Meanwhile upscale retailers like Saks Inc. are seeing sales driven by wealthier shoppers, rather than those middle-class shoppers who might splurge on an entry-level item. The Journal says Citigroup has created an investment basket of 25 companies catering to either upper-income or lower-income consumers in what it calls the "Consumer Hourglass Theory."

The middle-class squeeze predated the recession, but the weak economy hasn’t helped. The Economic Policy Institute found in April that the wealth gap widened during the recession.

The top 20 percent of Americans by wealth controlled 87.2 percent of all wealth as of 2009, according to the EPI's analysis.

Do you feel like you're being squeezed out of the middle class?

Results with 47 short comments
Total of 4,158 votes - click on the "Display Comments" bar below to sort comments

70.8%
Yes
2,945 votes
8.8%
No
365 votes
20.4%
I hope not, but it's not looking good
848 votes
Display Comments:
No

Not at all. I simply don't get caught up in the silly spending spree.

  • 3 votes
#1
 - Ice-1604584
 - 11:51 am EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
Yes

There is no middle-class anymore.

  • 7 votes
#2
 - liblit
 - 11:51 am EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
I hope not, but it's not looking good

I make ends meet by shopping like a poor person, at stores I never would have gone into before, and attending free cultural events.

  • 7 votes
#3
 - Rugbymom in RI
 - 11:51 am EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
Yes

Oligarchy thrives on wage slaves. Now it is more liuke just slaves.

  • 11 votes
#4
 - SRS-798254
 - 11:52 am EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
I hope not, but it's not looking good

I had to get a Master's degree in Medicine to recover the income I once had in computers. Cost $100,000 and 2 years of study. Still angry.

  • 2 votes
#5
 - billmcc1
 - 11:58 am EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
Yes

Between Washington, Wall Street, and here in Wisconsin -- Walker -- the middle class is screwed!

  • 3 votes
#6
 - deb-oh-rah
 - 11:59 am EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
Yes

Out of curiosity, what are the definitions of lower, middle, and upper classes anymore?

  • 4 votes
#7
 - NCLowe76
 - 12:02 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
Yes

We are not doing well at all.

  • 2 votes
#8
 - GHX
 - 12:03 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
Yes

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. I was taught back in the 90's that the middle class would disappear

  • 3 votes
#9
 - mdsj
 - 12:06 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
Yes

They need to realize that the Middle Class are the ones keeping this country running. If they went on strike everything would stop running.

  • 6 votes
#10
 - SHAWN-1387469
 - 12:12 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
I hope not, but it's not looking good

Wife was laid off a year ago. I may be soon. I hope my network of contacts can lead to a job that comes with health insurance, if needed.

  • 1 vote
#11
 - Drew-4083129
 - 12:21 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
Yes

Republicans don't care about middle class

    #12
     - ranchobill-3915885
     - 12:22 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    I hope not, but it's not looking good

    without the middle class this country will collapse. no middle class no tax base.plain and simple.

    • 4 votes
    #13
     - what?-3435821
     - 12:24 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    Yes

    As long as Congress favors the wealthy we will all be squeezed out

    • 9 votes
    #14
     - RamFla
     - 12:24 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    Yes

    Republican deregulation of the financial industry sends the money upstream to the very wealthiest. Stop this insanity NOW.

    • 8 votes
    #15
     - Rorschach-558483
     - 12:37 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    Yes

    We are going to resemble a Dickens novel relatively quickly.

    • 7 votes
    #16
     - Computer Geek
     - 12:51 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    Yes

    every aspect of my life is taxed. gas, food, phones, income, sales, driving, breathing, utilities. Everyone wants a cut of my income.

    • 4 votes
    #17
     - Mark-515467
     - 12:51 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    I hope not, but it's not looking good

    I'm working & solidly mid. class. I'm also shopping smart -- lowest price for toss aways & best price for quality keepers. Screw marketers

    • 3 votes
    #18
     - PJ-2874743
     - 12:51 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    I hope not, but it's not looking good

    Once the middle class is gone there will be riots. i.e. Let them eat cake.

    • 4 votes
    #19
     - Debengr
     - 12:56 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    Yes

    I'm grateful to have a job, but its discouraging when I realize my paychecks are several hundred dollars less than 2-3 years ago.

    • 4 votes
    #20
     - MacDeezy
     - 12:58 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    Yes

    I thought the middle class was declared extinct during the previous Administration and no on objected.

    • 4 votes
    #21
     - Bruce -848280
     - 1:00 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    I hope not, but it's not looking good

    I just stopped spending as employers are sending our jobs overseas.

    • 3 votes
    #22
     - Jim-1156645
     - 1:04 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    Yes

    Remember the middle class made up roughly 7% of the population before the industrial revolution.

    • 2 votes
    #23
     - MV-skeptic
     - 1:04 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    Yes

    No raise for 3 years, forced to take a pay cut, taxes, gas prices, food prices rising...not too much longer here in the middle....

    • 4 votes
    #24
     - nabbed25
     - 1:09 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
    No

    By virtue of education, my wife and are are both employed, and attractively employable. No upward movement, but no downward either.

      #25
       - EyesWideOpen-2162964
       - 1:19 pm EDT on Mon Sep 12, 2011
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