Bad news for the middle class: the economy looks strong on paper, but a normal life now costs far more than wages can keep up with.

• It now takes 14 months of work to afford 12 months of a basic middle-class life, up from 40 weeks in 1985.
• Nearly half of households earning over $100,000 live paycheck to paycheck, drained by debt and stalled savings.
• The big squeeze comes from housing, childcare, healthcare, and cars — costs that have far outrun pay.
• Household debt hit a record high, and most credit card balances now go toward basics like groceries and gas, not extras.
• Wealth keeps flowing to people who own assets like homes and stocks, while workers who produce more get little of the gain.

Outlook: These cost pressures show no sign of easing, so most families will likely keep running harder just to stay in place.