Income and Poverty

Recently-released reports from the US Census Bureau document changes between 1995 and 1996 in house-hold incomes, numbers of people living in poverty . . . Women working full-time, year-round saw a 2.4% increase in their median earnings. However, the median income for such women is only $23,710. And, while the female-to-male earnings ratio increased among full-time, year-round workers, such women earn a median salary which is only 74% of the median salary of men.

1996 saw no reduction in poverty. 36.5 million persons in the US (13.7% of the total population) lived below the federal poverty line (household income for a family of four of less than $16,036). Among children, 20.5% lived in poverty. The number of persons with incomes less than half the poverty line actually increased (14.4 million, up from 13.9 million). . .

Thanks to FCNL Newsletter 10/97