Answer:
Most Americans in 2001 enjoyed a very high standard of living when compared to the rest of the world, because the United States has been one of the wealthiest countries of the globe since the end of World War II.
America in 2001 had a large Middle Class, income inequality was lower (although average income was not higher), and this middle class could enjoyed many amenities, like household appliances, cable television, and vacations every few years.
Important differences with American lifestyle today is that air travel had a much less tight security, and that internet was rudimentary, slow, and had not been accessed by the majority of Americans.
