Question

The chart below shows the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Model Answer

The chart shows the distribution of income in the US, measured by millions of households. Overall, other than a rise in the number of the highest-earning households, the distribution of income remained largely unchanged.

In 2007, most households in the United States earned less than $75,000 a year. The next four years saw a further rise in the number of low earning households. The two lowest earning categories each rose by around two to three million. In fact, in 2011, households earning between $25,000 and $49,999 formed the single largest earnings group in the country.

In contrast, the two highest categories, representing families earning more than $75,000, fell by around two million between 2007 and 2011. However, the number of high-earning households had rebounded by 2015, surpassing levels set in 2007. As a result, households earning more than $100,000 once again became the most numerous in the country, totalling around thirty-three million.

(160 words)