The answer is “decreased”. Since the year 1969, the middle class in the United States of America has decreased. There are many factors associated in the decreasing number of middle class individuals in the US. Either these individuals had moved to the higher class which is also known as the rich class, or they may have fallen to the lower class. It may also depend on the job of a person. Middle class individuals are considered to be part of the middle class as long as their annual salary may be as high as only $250,000.00 a year.