Poverty Rate in U.S. Rose to 15-Year High in 2009
This article is for subscribers only.
The poverty rate in the U.S. rose to the highest level in 15 years in 2009, underscoring the toll the recession took on the nation and adding fuel to an election- year debate over the Obama administration’s economic policies.
The proportion of people living in poverty climbed to 14.3 percent from 13.2 percent, according to a Census Bureau report released today. The number of people classified as poor rose to 43.6 million, the largest number in the 51 years for which the figures have been published.