I found the following graph from the same pew research pretty interesting.<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pewsocialtrends.org&#x2F;files&#x2F;2016&#x2F;05&#x2F;ST_2016.05.12_middle-class-geo-ch1-02.png" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pewsocialtrends.org&#x2F;files&#x2F;2016&#x2F;05&#x2F;ST_2016.05.12_m...</a><p>Essentially, the middle class shrank from 55% of the population in 2000 to 51% of the population in 2014.<p>However, the upper class absorbed 3% (3&#x2F;4th) of the shrinking middle class growing from 17% to 20% of the population, while the lower class absorbed only 1% (1&#x2F;4th) of the shrinking middle class.<p>Having said that, you will not hear that 3&#x2F;4th of the middle have disappeared and become upper class, you will only hear 4% of middle class has disappeared subtly implying everyone has become lower class.