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Census Bureau Reports Household Income Rises, Poverty Rate Declines, Number of Uninsured Up

Washington (Aug. 28)—Real median household income in the United States climbed between 2005 and 2006, reaching $48,200, according to a report released 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. (More)