The top 10% of American households own 89% of US stocks, and the top 1% own 50% of US stocks. The benefits have almost entirely accrued to a small minority at the top. Some of the 35+ cohort are doing exceedingly well, but most just have a primary residence (with a mortgage), some limited retirement savings, and maybe a small investment account. Those people are still working for a living, and likely have experienced real wage stagnation or decline. So media pundits claiming "the economy is great!" really does not match up with the typical experience. The stock market is not the economy.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/18/the-wealthiest-10percent-of-...