New Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Data

From the Census Bureau press release: "Real median household income in the United States climbed between 2005 and 2006, reaching $48,200, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the second consecutive year that income has risen.

"Meanwhile, the nation’s official poverty rate declined for the first time this decade, from 12.6 percent in 2005 to 12.3 percent in 2006. There were 36.5 million people in poverty in 2006, not statistically different from 2005. The number of people without health insurance coverage rose from 44.8 million (15.3 percent) in 2005 to 47 million (15.8 percent) in 2006."

The data are contained in the new Census report, "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006 report." The press release summarizes the data and provides links to income, poverty, and health insurance highlights.

Source: Aizenman, N.C., and Christopher Lee. "U.S. Poverty Rate Drops: Ranks of Uninsured Grow: Census Data Show Mixed View of Post-Recession Economy." Washington Post August 29, 2007. A03.