U.S. poverty rate reported at 27-year high
Poverty has risen across the United States, and Long Island is feeling it also. Soup kitchens and food banks have reported more drain on supplies in the past few years. In Holbrook people stand in line in June for a bag of groceries from the food pantry at Calvary Chapel Island of Grace. Credit: Heather Walsh, 2011
The U.S. Census Bureau reports the number of Americans in poverty jumped to 15.1 percent in 2010, a 27-year high.
About 46.2 million people, or nearly 1 in 6, were in poverty. That is up from 43.6 million, or 14.3 percent, in 2009. It was the highest level since 1983.
The number of people lacking health insurance increased to 49.9 million, a new high after revisions were made to 2009 figures. Losses were due mostly to working-age Americans who lost employer-provided insurance in the weak economy. Main provisions of the health overhaul law do not take effect until 2014.
The statistics released Tuesday cover 2010, when U.S. unemployment averaged 9.6 percent, up from 9.3 percent the previous year.
The median -- or midpoint -- household income was $49,445, a 2.3 decline from 2009.
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