Have Californians Kept Up in the 1990s?

Although the California economy has been outperforming the U.S., statistics on family income suggest that Californians are losing ground.

1 minute read

August 26, 2000, 2:30 PM PDT

By California 2000


Using data on U.S. income between 1989 to 1998, economic analysts foundthat the middle-income California family lost ground economically duringthe 1990s while those families in other states progressed. Daly andother analysts largely blame the diminished economic standing ofCalifornia's mid- and lower-income families on the state's devastatingrecession in the early 1990s and the late arrival of the nationaleconomic boom in the state. In addition, a long-term cause of economicinequality is California's comparatively large pool of young and poorlyeducated workers, many of them immigrants. The study determined thatmedian family income actually fell 4% in California from 1989 to 1998,while in the other 49 states it climbed 8%.

Thanks to California 2000 Project

Friday, August 25, 2000 in Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

April 28 - The Sacramento Bee