Wages as percentage of income at low

• Tweet

WASHINGTON, April 26 (UPI) -- Financial analysis conducted by USA Today found that U.S. wages as a percentage of personal income fell to the lowest point in 82 years in 2010.

Wages made up 51 percent of personal income last year, while government payments hit a record 18.3 percent, as unemployment benefits, rising healthcare costs and a sluggish economy pushed the figure higher, the newspaper said.

In February 2011, wages fell to a record 50.5 percent of personal income, but government payments have leveled off at an annual rate of $2.3 trillion.

Government aid came out to an average of $7,427 per citizen last year, more than double the $3,686 average from 1990 with figures adjusted for inflation.