The poverty rate in the U.S. remained unchanged at 15 percent in 2012, the Census Bureau said Tuesday.
This means there were 46.5 million Americans below the poverty line last year, or 1 in 7 Americans. Â This figure is not statistically different from the 46.2 million who lived below the poverty line in 2011, the Census says.
Despite the hoopla and hype regarding recent economic growth, another sign that this has meant very little for many Americans is the median household income.
According to the Census, median income in the United States in 2012 was $51,017, virtually unchanged from the previous year of $51,100.
On Monday, President Barack Obama touted the economic improvements, noting that the economy grew by 2.8 percent in 2012.
With these dismal Census figures released today, the question that should be asked is: Who has benefited from this economic recovery?
