CTUSA - Middle class income falls ... but not everywhere

http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/26/news/economy/middle_class_income/index.htm?iid=Lead


Nationwide, median household income fell to $50,046 in 2010, down 1.4% from 2007, according to Census statistics released last week.
But while the Great Recession wreaked havoc across the nation, wide disparity among the states shows that not all the pain was shared equally. Some Americans were still able to get ahead despite soaring unemployment and the housing collapse.

In 21 states and the District of Columbia, households in the middle of the pay scale saw their incomes rise despite the recession, according to a CNNMoney analysis of the data. These lucky folks benefited largely from the growth of the federal government, higher energy and agriculture prices, and the rebound on Wall Street.