Poverty and Income in 2009: A Look at the New Census Data and What the Numbers Mean

The U.S. Census Bureau released the latest statistics on poverty and family income for 2009. Poverty declined every year between 1993 and 2000, but increased from 2001 to 2004. Declining in 2005 and 2006, poverty again increased in 2007 and 2008 as a result of the large increases in unemployment due to the current recession. The Brookings Institution Center on Children and Families hosted a policy briefing to discuss the new data and implications for families in the United States.