Image copyright Getty Images

Average American incomes rose by 5.2% in 2015, in the fastest increase ever recorded by the federal government.

The annual report from the Census Bureau also found that the poverty rate fell for all racial groups, in the steepest decline found since 1968.

Low income workers received the largest boost, bringing median income levels back to before the recession.

This was the first recorded rise in American household incomes in eight years - or since the Obama presidency.

Figures for Americans who lack healthcare also dropped, as did the poverty rate.

In 2015 there were 43.1 million Americans living in poverty, 3.5 million fewer than in 2014.

Angry US middle classes feel the squeeze

The 40-year hurt

Real median household income was $56,500 (£42,900) in 2015, the Census Bureau reported, up from $53,700 (£40,700) the year before.

About 2.4 million more Americans have found full-time year-round work in 2015, according to Census officials.

But median incomes only rose for workers in US cities, and not for rural or farm workers.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Farm workers have nothing to celebrate with incomes failing to rise

There is still a large disparity between white and black workers' incomes.

The median household income for black Americans in 2015 was $36,898 (£28,000). The median household income for white Americans was $63,000 (£47,770).

Income inequality has been a major issue throughout the 2016 campaign.

Hillary Clinton has promised equal opportunities to all American workers, while Donald Trump says he will be the "the greatest jobs producing president that God ever created".