Current Events > Poverty significantly decreased in America during 2013-2017. Incomes up.

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/2013-2017-acs-5year.html

Of the 3,142 counties in the United States, median household income declined in 222 counties (7.1 percent), while median household income increased in 521 counties (16.6 percent) when comparing 2013-2017 five-year estimates with 2008-2012 estimates.

Of the 3,142 counties across the nation, poverty rates declined in 441 counties (14.0 percent), while poverty rates increased in 264 counties (8.4 percent) between the 2008-2012 period and the 2013-2017 period. The U.S. poverty rate was 14.6 percent, a significant decrease from the 2008-2012 five-year percentage of 14.9.

For comparison, over roughly the same period the poverty rate in the EU is at round 17.3%.

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Europe_2020_indicators_-_poverty_and_social_exclusion#General_overview

Must be all that communism taking over the world.
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thanks obama
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Economic statistics are better than during the recession. Wild.
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RedWhiteBlue posted...

How about income and wealth for single earners who don't have a trade or bachelors and higher degree? That's what tells you if the average American is actually going places, not a few people making multiple lifetimes of money for themselves or the family unit as a whole.

This.

Also lol at 0.3 being a significant decrease.
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And yet the majority of Americans are one medical emergency away from financial ruin

EdgeMaster posted...

RedWhiteBlue posted...

How about income and wealth for single earners who don't have a trade or bachelors and higher degree? That's what tells you if the average American is actually going places, not a few people making multiple lifetimes of money for themselves or the family unit as a whole.

This.

Also lol at 0.3 being a significant decrease.

.3% of the population is almost 1 million people, I think that's pretty significant tbh
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Godnorgosh posted...

Of course, you don't mention that the poverty line in the US is defined as ~$22,000 for a family of four, so it is extremely low and doesn't take into account rising cost of living. If you had to raise one child or no children on that income, you would rightly be considered impoverished in many areas, but you wouldn't be included in the poverty rate by the Census Bureau.

How many people in America are making so far below the median household income and trying to raise a kid?

the fact that 14% of our country has a household income of under 22k/yr is pretty sad, given how much wealth there is in this country. and this isnt even accounting for people who live in near poverty, because a family earning 25k is above the line but still has no quality of life
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CornBarn posted...

Godnorgosh posted...

Of course, you don't mention that the poverty line in the US is defined as ~$22,000 for a family of four, so it is extremely low and doesn't take into account rising cost of living. If you had to raise one child or no children on that income, you would rightly be considered impoverished in many areas, but you wouldn't be included in the poverty rate by the Census Bureau.

How many people in America are making so far below the median household income and trying to raise a kid?

umm a lot?

MC_BatCommander posted...

EdgeMaster posted...

RedWhiteBlue posted...

How about income and wealth for single earners who don't have a trade or bachelors and higher degree? That's what tells you if the average American is actually going places, not a few people making multiple lifetimes of money for themselves or the family unit as a whole.

This.

Also lol at 0.3 being a significant decrease.

.3% of the population is almost 1 million people, I think that's pretty significant tbh

Its cool on paper but in practice it means that a medical emergency or having to leave work for 4 hours one week means theyre still fucked and going to be evicted.

I mean lol, $22k a year before taxes isnt shit. You cant afford .50cent wings on that income lol. Anything up until about $35k a year gross income in most areas means money is so tight you cant afford the things you need, much less want. You also make too much to qualify for gov assistance too lol.
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Romulox28 posted...

the fact that 14% of our country has a household income of under 22k/yr is pretty sad, given how much wealth there is in this country. and this isnt even accounting for people who live in near poverty, because a family earning 25k is above the line but still has no quality of life

Seems like it's going down and still under the EU's rate despite the EU's considerable welfare state.

The number of people not in poverty anymore is almost equal to the number of people aged 16 and over making the minimum wage.

And I'm still curious how many people are making so far below the median household income and still trying to raise a family. Surely the number of people thrust into that outside of their control is a much smaller number than some people here are implying.

CornBarn posted...

The number of people not in poverty anymore is almost equal to the number of people aged 16 and over making the minimum wage.

And I'm still curious how many people are making so far below the median household income and still trying to raise a family. Surely the number of people thrust into that outside of their control is a much smaller number than some people here are implying.

I would imagine life is very, very different than most would typically think. You crunch the numbers and theres nothing left for rent and you cant afford fuck all thats not at a food bank or on the dollar menu.

Like said $20k gross isnt shit. Make more than $14k gross a year and you fucked yourself pretty good. You cant get government assistance, at least in my state.

For the record, you make more than $14k gross a year if you work minimum wage for 40 hours a week.

So life is probably purposely working less than 40 hours a week, sleeping in a homeless shelter and checking into the hospital with chest pains (to skip the line) a few times a day for a free meal.

Kids can eat when they go to school for pennies they found on the way to school because their household income lol, qualifies for dirt cheap if not free meals. After school its shoplifting for food or getting handouts before sleeping at a homeless shelter.
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> poverty decreases significantly
> people freak out and decide that we must make America great again

Shiggidy shiggidy shwah!

EdgeMaster posted...

RedWhiteBlue posted...

How about income and wealth for single earners who don't have a trade or bachelors and higher degree? That's what tells you if the average American is actually going places, not a few people making multiple lifetimes of money for themselves or the family unit as a whole.

This.

Also lol at 0.3 being a significant decrease.

The word significant is a statistical term that means the number wasn't produced by something like a sampling error.
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