Wages have remained flat when inflation is taken into account, i.e. real wages are flat, nominal wages continue to increase. We also have seen upward movement in median household income recently, and we should expect that trend to continue. So the idea of flat wages may be coming to an end.

What hasn't remained flat is the wages paid to the top N% which has greatly increased and accelerated the wealth gap. It is this gap that leaves people less satisfied despite being generally better off.