Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. children poor, Census says [View All]

[OhioChick]

Source: Reuters

2 hours 5 minutes ago

WASHINGTON — The number of children in the United States considered poor rose by 1 million in 2010, the U.S. Census said on Thursday, with nearly one in three of the youngest Americans now living in poverty.

"Children who live in poverty, especially young children, are more likely than their peers to have cognitive and behavioral difficulties, to complete fewer years of education, and, as they grow up, to experience more years of unemployment," the Census said.

In 2010, when the Census survey was conducted, 32.3 percent of children across the country were poor, compared to 30.8 percent in 2009.

That was mainly due to a rise in the number of children living below the federal poverty threshold, defined as an annual income of $22,314 for a family of four, to 15.7 million from 14.7 million in 2009.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45346041/ns/us_news-life/#.TsWucbJBmt8