WASHINGTON — Gradually but steadily, Americans are recovering their vast loss of wealth from the recession, thanks to larger stock portfolios.
Household net worth grew 2.2 percent in the July-September quarter, fueled by a rally on Wall Street that catapulted stock prices. And stocks have risen more since the new quarter began Oct. 1, further boosting wealth.
Those increases are lifting hopes for the economy, especially because Congress could pass a package extending tax cuts for most Americans. Both factors help: The stock gains make people feel wealthier. And the tax cuts put more spending money in their pockets.
Consumers’ confidence and access to cash are vital because their spending fuels about 70 percent of economic activity. Last quarter, Americans boosted their spending at the fastest annualized pace in nearly four years.
Net worth is the value of assets such as homes and stocks, minus debts such as mortgages and credit cards. It totaled nearly $55 trillion last quarter, the Federal Reserve said Thursday. The increase from July through September occurred even though the value of people’s real-estate holdings sank 3.7 percent.
U.S. net worth has risen far from its bottom during the recession: $49 trillion in the first quarter of 2009. Yet it would still have to rise an additional 20 percent to regain its pre-recession peak of $66 trillion.
