An article by the Chicago Tribune states that the current real estate crisis threatens the lower and middle classes, in particular, and could even further widen the gap between rich and poor.

But shrinking home values, and tightening credit, which makes it more difficult for people to buy or hold on to homes, threaten to hasten the growing income equality in the U.S., warns a study of Americans' economic mobility slated for release Wednesday. 

The article, found here, uses data from a report released Wednesday by the Pew Charitable Trusts.