Middle-class Americans have also seen a rising wealth tide, with the middle 50% to 90% of Americans seeing their wealth increase 50%. The value of corporate equities and mutual fund shares held by the top 1% surged to $19.7 trillion from $17.65 trillion the previous quarter. The wealth of the top 1% hit a record $44.6 trillion at the end of the fourth quarter, as an end-of-year stock rally lifted their portfolios, according to new data from the Federal Reserve. Economists say the rising stock market is giving an added boost to consumer spending through what is known as the "wealth effect." "Of course, this highlights a vulnerability of the economy if the stock market were to falter.

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Persons: Robert Frank, Mark Zandi, Zandi, Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab, – Sonders Organizations: Federal Reserve, Moody's, Stocks, Conference Board Locations: U.S