Recession takes its toll: sluggish economy increases poverty levels in the U.S. (Facts & Figures).The recession that began in March 2001 contributed to a reduction in income levels and a rise in poverty, reports the U.S. Census Bureau Noun 1. Census Bureau - the bureau of the Commerce Department responsible for taking the census; provides demographic information and analyses about the population of the United States Bureau of the Census . Between 2000 and 2001, poverty among all Americans rose from 11.3% to 11.7%. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Poverty in the United States Poverty in the United States refers to people whose annual family income is less than a "poverty line" set by the U.S. government. Poverty is a condition in which a person or community is deprived of, or lacks the essentials for, a minimum standard of well being and life. : 2001, one of two U.S. Census Bureau reports issued in September 2002, poverty increased among African Americans African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. , but at a slower rate than it did for whites. Disturbingly, the data indicates that low-income blacks may face tough times ahead. While 2000 yielded the lowest-ever poverty rate for African Americans at 22.5%, it rose slightly to 22.7% in 2001. "Black poverty levels have fallen to historic lows with the 1990s expansion. The big question over the next couple of years, particularly if the economy does not recover quickly, will be whether poverty rates will start creeping creeping 1. gradual progression of a lesion or tissue growth. 2. prostrate growth pattern of a plant, e.g. c. buttercup (Ranunculus repens), c. caustic (Euphorbia drummondii), c. charlie (Glechoma hederacea), c. back up," says Roderick Harrison, director of DataBank at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies ("Joint Center"), headquartered in Washington, DC, is a national, nonprofit research and public policy institution or think tank. in Washington, D.C. The annual survey's other report, Money Income in the United States Income in the United States is measured by the United States Department of Commerce either by household or individual. The differences between household and personal income is considerable since 42% of households, the majority of those in the top two quintiles with incomes : 2001, shows that median household income The median household income is commonly used to provide data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more. declined by 2.2%. Black median household income fell 3.4% from $30,495 to $29,470. All regions except the Northeast experienced a decrease in median household income. Dr. Harrison says a possible explanation is that the Northeast has a more diverse mix of industries than the South and West, which depend more on soft sectors like travel and high-tech. And with economic uncertainty likely to continue, next year's report could be even grimmer "I would certainly expectthe downward trends in income and an increase in poverty to appear in next year's data," says Harrison Average Household Income * 2000 AFRICAN AMERICAN $30,495 WHITE, NON-HISPANIC $46,896 ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER $57,313 HISPANIC $34,094 2001 AFRICAN AMERICAN $29,470 WHITE, NON-HISPANIC $46,305 ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER $53,635 HISPANIC $33,565 Note: Table made from bar graph. Poverty in the United States * 2000 AFRICAN AMERICAN 22.5 WHITE, NON-HISPANIC 7.4 ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER 9.9 HISPANIC 21.5 2001 AFRICAN AMERICAN 22.7 WHITE, NON-HISPANIC 7.8 ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER 10.2 HISPANIC 21.4 * SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS Note: Table made from bar graph. |
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