Wall Street bonuses set all-time record in 2005

Wall Street bonuses set an all-time record in 2005, with financial services firms handing out an estimated $21.5 billion, according to information released Wednesday morning by the state Comptroller’s Office. That bonus amount is up from the $18.6 billion in 2004, and trumps by $2 billion the previous record — 2000’s $19.5 billion. The average bonus per person of $125,500 is also a record, up 10 percent from 2004. Wall Street bonuses remain a closely watched barometer for the future health of the city’s housing sales market.