<P> This wealth inequality is apparent in the share of assets held . In 2010, the top 5% wealthiest households had approximately 72% of the financial wealth, while the bottom 80% of households had 5% . Financial wealth is measured as net worth minus home values, meaning income - generating financial assets like stocks and bonds, plus business equity . </P> <P> The Center for American Progress reported in September 2014 that: "The trends in rising inequality are also striking when measured by wealth . Among the top 20 percent of families by net worth, average wealth increased by 120 percent between 1983 and 2010, while the middle 20 percent of families only saw their wealth increase by 13 percent, and the bottom fifth of families, on average, saw debt exceed assets--in other words, negative net worth...Homeowners in the bottom quintile of wealth lost an astounding 94 percent of their wealth between 2007 and 2010 ." </P>

When was the last time the us level of economic inequality was this high