CENSUS: Rise in Poverty Levels Off, But Still Alarmingly High
Posted by
Lori Pfingst
at
Sep 20, 2012 05:05 PM
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New data for Washington released today show that the large, recession-driven increases in poverty leveled off between 2010 and 2011, but at 13.9 percent, the rate remains significantly higher than in 2007, just prior to the economic downturn.
The data show:
- The total poverty rate increased from 11 percent to 14 percent between 2007 and 2011;
- Over 58,000 more children are living in poverty compared to 2007; children have the highest poverty rate (18 percent) compared to other age groups;
- The majority (88 percent) of the increase in poverty occurred among White and Hispanic people in Washington; and
- Counties with a greater share of rural areas continue to have the highest poverty rates.
