Analysis of Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

(from FotF's Pastor's Weekly Briefing)

The Census Bureau just released an in-depth analysis of income, poverty and health insurance coverage in the U.S. in 2007.

• Real median household income in the United States climbed 1.3 percent between 2006 and 2007, reaching $50,233. This is the third annual increase in real [inflation-adjusted] median household income.
• Meanwhile, the nation's official poverty rate in 2007 was 12.5 percent, not statistically different from 2006. There were 37.3 million people in poverty in 2007, up from 36.5 million in 2006.
• The number of people without health insurance coverage declined from 47 million (15.8 percent) in 2006 to 45.7 million (15.3) in 2007.
• Real income rose for black households, the first increase since 1999.
• Real income was statistically unchanged for Hispanic and Asian households.
• National income inequality decreased from 2006 to 2007.
• The poverty threshold for a family of four in 2007 was $21,203.
• 21.5 percent of Hispanics were in poverty in 2007, up from 20.6 percent in 2006.
• 18 percent of children under 18 were in poverty in 2007, up from 17.4 percent in 2006.
• Uninsured children decreased from 8.7 to 8.1 million.
• Uninsured Hispanics decreased from 15.3 to 14.8 million.