Final answer:
The wealthiest 5 percent of U.S. families control approximately 22.3% of the nation's privately held wealth, indicating a significant level of income inequality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The wealthiest 5 percent of U.S. families control approximately two-thirds (66%) of the nation's privately held wealth. This means that a small percentage of the population holds a significant portion of the country's wealth. Income inequality is a significant issue in the United States, with a substantial wealth gap between the richest and poorest individuals.
The question pertains to the wealth distribution among U.S. families, specifically, the percentage of the nation's privately held wealth controlled by the wealthiest 5 percent. In 2011, households in the top 5% of the income distribution held 22.3% of the income. This level of concentration being part of a trend, indicates increasing income inequality over the last decades. Moreover, the upper echelons, such as the top 1%, own a significant portion of the wealth, contributing to a skewed wealth distribution where a small percentage controls a large portion of the resources.