Number Of Americans In Poverty Up Slightly
But Those Without Health Insurance Fell By More Than 1 Million Last Year; Median Income Up
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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.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.




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See all 220 CommentsWe are white,black,etc. Handicapped and non handicapped. We are male and female. We are young and old. We are poorly schooled and unskilled. We love America does she love us. I don''t know.
Too bad so many don''t see it that way.
Hey CBS editors,Do you see whats wrong in the above paragraph? I do.
But, anyways, these numbers in this entire article is skewed. They should go back further, and the results would be staggering. Compared to just last year, Lets look at it from lets say,,2004, or 05. Those numbers would spike in 05, I believe.
If I were a leader of this nation, that would embarrass me to no end that I was not serving the citizens. It seems some no sense of shame.
P.S. Have you noticed that the media has quit using the term "aliens" as it has been deemed cruel.
Maybe if they were not allowed to open tax sheltered corporations off shore as in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.
More and more I find that most of society''s ills can be directly linked to these wealthy folks that love to exploit and hate to pay taxes.
Don''t get sidetracked with politics. This issue is not a Republican or Democrat issue. The problem is with the wealthy being greedy.
"People live in poverty because they are lazy and want to."
An easy cop-out. Ebenezer Scrooge said the same thing.
The reason that so many people live in poverty are that the wealthy love to exploit and hate paying taxes.
Taxes that could better educate and treat mental issues in this nation.
"So what defines poverty these days? Only two TVs? Not enough food to hit 250 pounds?"
Do a Google search for "poverty guidelines".
"To me Poverty is having no shelter and no food and generally being at extreme risk of death due to hunger and exposure."
Way to tell ''em Ebenezer!
Pappy: "Hey I know what you mean, but I''ve got no choice till after I take over as the new Dictator"...
"We''ll just put your arm in a cast and say you can''t shake any more hands, OK Baby"???
Mrs. Pappy: "Don''t ever call me Baby again, you wrinkled, slobbering, old fool"....
Source: http://aspe.hhs.gov/POVERTY/08fedreg.htm
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My thoughts exactly.
Let''s cut taxes again to further bankrupt this government. Even the U.S. Military is running on a mortgage. China and Saudi Arabia are ready to loan America more $$$.
Posted by wangbang747 at 02:30 PM : Aug 26, 2008
You must be doomed then.
"Half of the poverty is because people are too dammm lazy to get off there a$$es and get a job. Many depend on the gov. to support them. Makes me sick"
Since being raised from the dead, seems that you would be a wiser man.
Posted by hermitdave at
Oh I have no doubt the median income went up, especially if you count the prosperity of the top 5% in that number.
I will sit here lazy and watch TV. What are you going to do to lift up my Hopes of getting a job?
I feel much more sorry for the lazy and stupid than I do for the greedy that refuse to help them.
"Let''''s cut taxes again to further bankrupt this government. Even the U.S. Military is running on a mortgage. China and Saudi Arabia are ready to loan America more $$$."
Obviously you have confused me with another poster.
Don''t worry America. Bush and McSame are doing fine even if you aren''t their houses are paid off and they have millions in the bank. I guess that''s why they both say the economy is doing really well.
Posted by cbsfan73 at 02:39 PM : Aug 26, 2008
Those of us that work hard and pay taxes don''t mind helping the poor. But, you cannot help those who refuse to help themselves. Welfare has been twisted into a system that allows lazy people to remain lazy and get something for nothing. You should have to work in some capacity to collect a welfare check.
Go ahead and bad mouth the people at the bottom of the ladder. However, that is never going to fix your problems with them. I thought you were much smarter than that. Their problems is your problems. Blaming them is like blaming yourself since we are all in the same boat.
Posted by Screan_name at 02:42 PM : Aug 26, 2008
And Oblama made $4 million last year. Pretty good for a senator. By the way the liberals are in control of congress. They have been for the past two years and have done nothing to help the ecomomy.
"You should have to work in some capacity to collect a welfare check."
Look at the poverty guidelines.
Being in the poverty category does not mean that you are drawing welfare. It means that you don''t make enough money to have a basic standard of living.
You try working for minimum wage (roughly $14K per year) and see if you can break the poverty level.
Posted by lovegetpeace at 02:47 PM : Aug 26, 2008
I guess things aren''t as bad as the liberals would have us believe then. Great job by the Bush administratin.
Posted by lovegetpeace at 02:47 PM : Aug 26, 2008
I guess things aren''t as bad as the liberals would have us believe then. Great job by the Bush administratin.
George W Bush has given us two recessions in eight years. And he had an MBA. For a self-described ignorant of economic issues, John McCain will set a record and bring us two recessions in four years. As a results, economists are urging McCain supporters to stock-up on Soup Bowls and keep their shoes for the bread-lines handy. The recessions under McCain will make 1929 look like a prosperous time.
It is specially true for Seniors. After gettin rid the "disgraced" social security program, most of the seniors today will fall below the poverty line as they used to be in the past. Althougth it will be hard to watch for us, McCain and his buddies will be at a country club where they will be shielded from this ugly state of the country.
Spread the word.
Eliminate the Quota system so they can get their Legal Documents and not have to wait 24.8 years in line. This problem is fixed.
You try working for minimum wage (roughly $14K per year) and see if you can break the poverty level.
Posted by cbsfan73 at 02:49 PM : Aug 26, 2008
I posted that in response to a comment about helping the poor. It had nothing to do with how the poverty level is set.
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get off your lazy a$$ and get a job.
"Great job by the Bush administratin."
Yep, Bravo to president Bush for these poverty numbers.
Hire me now since my last job was OutSourced to India and I am now competing with InSourced (H1B) candidates.
"I will a stupid person a sick person a poor person, but, I aint givin a lazy person SH*T!"
How would you tell the difference? Some laziness comes from mental issues that were never addressed in childhood.
You go out and work for minimum wage and then tell me how motivated you are.
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Are you one of those freeloading,lazy Americans who live off the gov.?
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Are you one of those freeloading,lazy Americans who live off the gov.?
Posted by lovegetpeace at 02:50 PM : Aug 26, 2008
Rent a fleet of Greyhound busses to collect them and drop them at the nearest border crossing. Heavily fine any employer that employees them. Bar any illegal alien found in the US from ever being able to apply for residency or legally enter the US for any reason. Those measures would fix the problem.
Yep, Bravo to president Bush for these poverty numbers.
Posted by lovegetpeace at 02:52 PM : Aug 26, 2008
That was a great job because only about 1/3 as many people are on welfare as there were in 1993.
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