It was much harder in the old days
The long term improvement of standard of living can be seen when comparing the goods sold today and the goods sold 10 years ago, 50 years ago and centuries ago. Everybody will see that obvious drastic improovements.

For example an average family in 1500 could barley sustain their existence by the earnings from their labour. That is the money needed to buy the basic, food, some form of primitive house and basic clothing.

The numbers 1500 - 2005.
A worker in 1500 had to work for three days to afford to buy a 2.3 kilo (5 pound) of flour. Today the average american earns $100. In three days that is $300. For $300 you can today buy 430 2.3 kilo packs of flour.

The average person today has a 430 times better standard of living than a person back in 1500.