The first half of the year was all about the surprising recovery of the wealthy. Their fortunes were back. Millionaires were back. Luxury was back. Even private jets were coming back.

The rest of the country may have been depressed, but the wealthy were riding high on the 70% jump in the stock market in 2009. Their rebound marked a new de-coupling in the recovery: the rich and everyone else, with the rich doing most of the spending, borrowing, investing and giving in the economy.