The average (median) money income of families in the United States was about $5,700 in 1961, according to estimates released today by the Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce. This estimate, from a sample survey of some 26,000 households, was about $120, or 2 percent, higher than in 1960. Consumer prices rose during this period by about 1 percent; therefore, any increase in family income greater than this amount represented a net gain in purchasing power for the average family.¹

About 10 million families, or 21 percent of the 46 1/2 million families in the Nation, received money incomes under $3,000 in 1961. The number of families in that income range remained about the same as a year earlier. Another 9 million, or 20 percent, received incomes between $3,000 and $5,000 last year; and 10 million, or 22 percent, had incomes between $5,000 and $7,000. The remaining 17 million families, or 37 percent, reported incomes of $7,000 or more, representing an increase of about 1 1/2 million families in this class since the March 1961 survey.

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¹ The Consumer Price Index of the Department of Labor averaged 103.1 in 1960 and 104.2 in 1961 (1957-59-100).