Number Of Americans In Poverty Up Slightly

The Census Bureau reports that 12.5 percent of Americans, or 37.3 million people, were living in poverty in 2007, up from 36.5 million in 2006.

The Bureau said the rate is not statistically different from the previous year. However, the data released Tuesday do not take into account the consequences of the economic downturn that began late last year.

Although poverty rates were statistically unchanged for non-Hispanic Whites (8.2 percent), Blacks (24.5 percent), and Asians (10.2 percent) from the previous year, it increased for Hispanics (21.5 percent in 2007, up from 20.6 percent in 2006).

The rate also increased for children under 18 years old (18.0 percent in 2007, up from 17.4 percent in 2006). The rates remained statistically unchanged for those 18-to-64 years old (10.9 percent) and those 65 and over (9.7 percent).

The data also revealed that the number of people lacking health insurance dropped by more than 1 million in 2007, the first annual decline since President Bush took office.

Census says 45.7 million people - 15.3 percent of the population - were uninsured in 2007. That's down from 47 million in 2006.

Government health insurance coverage increased to 83.0 million people (up from 80.3 million in 2006), while there was little change in the number of those covered by private health insurance (202 million in 2077, up from 201.7 million in 2006)

Both the percentage and number of children under 18 years old without health insurance were lower than in 2006 (11.0 percent and 8.1 million, respectively). Although the uninsured rate for children in poverty decreased last year, from 19.3 percent to 17.6 percent, children in poverty were more likely to be uninsured than all children.

In 2007, 24.5 percent of people in households with annual incomes of less than $25,000 had no health insurance coverage.

The data is included in a new report by the Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007.

The report showed that by region, the number of those living in poverty in the South increased to 15.5 million in 2007 (14.2 percent), up from 14.9 million in 2006. The poverty rates for the Northeast (11.4 percent), Midwest (11.1 percent), and West (12.0 percent) were statistically unchanged from 2006.

Among the positive findings: The median - or midpoint - household income (adjusted for inflation) increased 1.3 percent between 2006 and 2007, from $49,568 to $50,233, the third consecutive annual increase.

Number in Poverty and Poverty Rate: 1959 to 2007

(U.S. Census Bureau)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1960 to 2008 Annual Social and Economic SupplementsThe data was collected from the Current Population Survey (CPS), 2008 Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC), the source of official poverty estimates. The CPS ASEC is a sample survey of approximately 100,000 households nationwide.

CBSNews.com producer David Morgan contributed to this report.

[jamesetling]

I hear people talk about how the economy will get better and our standard of living will stop declining. And at some point everything will improve to be like it was around ten years ago. But I really don''t believe that. The stepping stones we took to get into this mess are gone. We can''t turn around and try to back up to where we came from. We''ll all have to keep losing ground until one day we starve. If the Chinese are generous when they take possession of what was once our country, maybe they will bury our bones.

[xmanborg]

Poverty increased for Hispanics (21.5 percent in 2007, up from 20.6 percent in 2006)

Not a real shocker, the illegal immigrants from mexico are not the richest and best educated mexicans marching across Rio Grand.

Also Hispanics tend to have Very LARGE Families with little or no education and they dont want to learn english and depend on American Tax Payers to help support their children and educate them.

This is something Legal American Citizens Can look FWD to in the Future as the Undeucated Poor Mexican Population continues to grow extreamly fast.

If you cant afford children and dont want to learn english then DONT have children them and dont depend on hand outs to support your family.

[trishab57]

CBS: Blacks (24.5 percent), and Asians (10.2 percent) from the previous year, it increased for Hispanics (21.5 percent in 2007, up from 20.6 percent in 2006).

-It''s surprising the Hispanics are stuck with the idea Repukons are better than the Democrats. I just can''t understand what this minority likes in a party of which decision makers like to ship good and well paying jobs abroad (for cheap labor) in order to increase their margin of profit? Some Hispanics of Cuban origin happen to ''personify'' the savage heartless capitalists represented by the Repukon party. And they have managed to hold a strong voice in the community. The balance of Hispanics of Central American origin, need to know their best interests and comfort are represented by the politics proposed by Clinton/Barack Obama/Biden icons.

[fsw3]

Naturally we can never celebrate a rise in the poverty level but I think we ought to look at some numbers and see where we are, on this of all days. This is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Millions of people were able to escape poverty due to his enlightened Great Society program. For so long the conservatives and Ronald Reagan were quick to quip: ''we fought a war on poverty and povery won.'' A funny line but not true. When Johnson became president on that dreadful day in November of 1963, twenty-eight percent of Americans lived in poverty. By the time he left the presidency in January of 1969, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, poverty was reduced to 13.7 percent of Americans. His policies cut poverty in half in five short years. An amazing success. Now we see the poverty rate is 12.5 percent and that is a raise!

[r9119111]

kamsack50:

No, I wouldn''t call it African style poverty yet. However, a person making $25,000 a year isn''t living as well today as he was eight years ago and whom do we thank for that. Might you be one of those who are playing it down? It''s the economy, stupid.

[eddom949]

People need to be hired for decent jobs. I''ve seen a lot of places go down the tubes, and it''s usually the Accuser who riles up authority, then you get the ''at-will'' thing and a speech and that''s the end of their desire to employ.

[kamsack50]

r91119111
At 25,000/yr you are NOT in poverty.
You don''t eat steak at wine n''dine restaurants, and you do shop at bargain stores with the more down-and-out.
But, you do drive, don''t you? And you''re not underweight, are you?
Don''t get me wrong. I know the disgustingly rich (mostly techies and store franchise dealers etc. who probably criticized big business 20 years ago) are creating a huge standard-of-living gap.
Just don''t call it poverty. Call it life-isn''t-much- fun and we''re p----d off.

[book54552134]

The majority of the nation''s middle class & the poor are fully aware that their standard of living has been in a gradual decline ever since Reagan introduced his "Trickle-down Economics" policies.

A mere 25 years years ago, a family of 5 could live quite comfortably on the income of one spouse. Now, both spouses are forced to work full time & even then, they are barely able to keep their heads above the financial tide. Add government polices which allow corporations to raid or end pension funds, & government programs which have not kept up with inflation, & what you have is millions of elderly & disabled being forced to choose between eating, heating their homes, or purchasing medications.

The middle class & the poor are beginning to realize that our Fascist government is not interested in tending to their Constitutional responsibilities of "tending to the general welfare of the people."

[babooph]

If 800,000 rich were to be taxed into poverty would the news say "SLIGHT"?[Oops I mean propaganda]

[babooph]

800,000 more in poverty-I wonder how "SLIGHT" a move those "FEW" feel about it?