Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau show that the child poverty rate increased last year, as the number of Americans living in poverty rose to a record level.
The number rose from 39 million in 2008 to 43 million in 2009, an increase from 13.2 percent of the population to 14.3 percent. Similarly, the poverty rate for children under age 18 rose from 19 percent in 2008 to 20.7 percent in 2009, or by 1.4 million children. The Census Bureau said 15 million children now live under the federal poverty level.
While the number of people without health insurance also increased, the number of uninsured children remained flat.
Free, 88 pages. www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p60-238.pdf.
