Census Bureau Report Shows Increase In Poverty

By Cornelius Nunev


Increasingly more Americans are losing their battle to stave off poverty in a tenaciously stubborn economy. The U.S. Census Bureau released a discouraging report Tuesday. The number of Americans living beneath the poverty line has increased to its greatest number since the bureau started maintaining such records in 1959.

Been over 10 years since high percentage

There were 46.2 million individuals considered in the poverty rate in 2010. That amount increased from 2009's 43.6 million people. About 52 years ago, records began to be kept. We are at the greatest rate since then. The 2010 poverty number are "approaching levels not seen since Lyndon B. Johnson launched the War on Poverty in 1965," states the Los Angeles Times.

The poverty rate rose 0.8 percent from last year to 15.1 percent, the highest percentage since 1993, which also topped out at 15.1 percent.

Less income coming in

We can also look at the median household income. It fell too. The average American made $49,445 when 2010 was over. From 2009, that is a 2.3 percent drop. There are now 49.9 billion Americans without medical insurance too. That is also a rise. There was a rise from 20.7 percent to 22 percent in the amount of children in poverty.

Not getting better soon

Analysts said that the numbers won't be changing this year. The country suffered a financial rating downgrade this year and unemployment remains stagnant at more than 9 percent.

The poverty threshold for the 2010 report was $11,139 annual revenue for an individual, and $22,314 for a family of four. All tax credits and food stamps do not count as revenue. This isn't how the Census Bureau calculates things. If it had, many of those counted as below the poverty line would have risen above it. Several can be pushed over with joblessness benefits as well.

Can be worse

Some experts believe that other factors downplay the nation's poverty level. Young adults aren't able to find work several times. They end up on their parent's revenue in these cases. The poverty threshold should not be considered in today's economic climate, experts believe, since it was created about fifty years ago.

A package might go through

Obama is hoping to get some votes back. He has a $450 billion jobs creation bill he is pushing. Debate over the government welfare programs is sure to rise with the report.

Poverty rate is pretty high

For a long time now, the United States has had high poverty rates. This is particularly true when compared to the developed world. Only Chile, Israel and Mexico have higher poverty rates.




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