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| Household incomes rose in 2015 for first time in eight years, US Census says | Household incomes rose in 2015 for first time in eight years, US Census says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Household incomes in the US finally broke free of the recession in 2015, rising for the first time since the Obama election, the Census Bureau announced on Tuesday, but they still remained below levels before the recession. | Household incomes in the US finally broke free of the recession in 2015, rising for the first time since the Obama election, the Census Bureau announced on Tuesday, but they still remained below levels before the recession. |
| The bureau’s annual report, the most detailed look at the financial health of US households to be released before the election, will be parsed by Democrats and Republicans in the weeks ahead and contained ammunition for both sides. | The bureau’s annual report, the most detailed look at the financial health of US households to be released before the election, will be parsed by Democrats and Republicans in the weeks ahead and contained ammunition for both sides. |
| There were 3.6 million fewer Americans living in poverty in 2015 than the year before, according the US Census. About 43.1 million Americans were living in poverty in 2015 compared with 46.7 million Americans in 2014. | There were 3.6 million fewer Americans living in poverty in 2015 than the year before, according the US Census. About 43.1 million Americans were living in poverty in 2015 compared with 46.7 million Americans in 2014. |
| The drop in the number of people living in poverty in the US can be attributed to an increase in median income, which rose to $56,516, up 5.2% from the 2014 median income of $53,718. | The drop in the number of people living in poverty in the US can be attributed to an increase in median income, which rose to $56,516, up 5.2% from the 2014 median income of $53,718. |
| However, the rise has failed to wipe out the losses US families endured during the recession, still more than a $1,000 below the median pre-recession levels. Americans are earning about what they were earning in 1999, when household income peaked at $56,895. However, accounting for inflation, 2015 median household income is about 2.4% lower than the median household income peak from 1999. | However, the rise has failed to wipe out the losses US families endured during the recession, still more than a $1,000 below the median pre-recession levels. Americans are earning about what they were earning in 1999, when household income peaked at $56,895. However, accounting for inflation, 2015 median household income is about 2.4% lower than the median household income peak from 1999. |
| Incomes rose for all racial groups. The median income for white Americans went up 4.4%, while that of black Americans went up by 4.1% and that of Hispanic Americans went up by 6.1%. | Incomes rose for all racial groups. The median income for white Americans went up 4.4%, while that of black Americans went up by 4.1% and that of Hispanic Americans went up by 6.1%. |
| But the levels of income inequality remained stark. The median household income for black Americans in 2015 was $36,898. The median household income for white Americans was $63,000 – about 70% more than that of black Americans. | |
| Income inequality and the economy are key issues in this election cycle. Most recently, while appearing in Cleveland, the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said there are only bad jobs available in the US and promised to be “the greatest jobs producing president that God ever created”. He has also come out in support of raising the US federal minimum wage to $10 an hour and claimed the Democrats have failed black voters. | Income inequality and the economy are key issues in this election cycle. Most recently, while appearing in Cleveland, the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said there are only bad jobs available in the US and promised to be “the greatest jobs producing president that God ever created”. He has also come out in support of raising the US federal minimum wage to $10 an hour and claimed the Democrats have failed black voters. |
| His rival, Hillary Clinton, has spoken about the need to build an economy for everyone. | His rival, Hillary Clinton, has spoken about the need to build an economy for everyone. |
| Activists are hoping the candidates will also address the needs of the still huge number of Americans living in poverty. On Wednesday, the Vote to End Hunger coalition plan to deliver a petition to Lester Holt, NBC newscaster and host of the first presidential debate, urging him to push the presidential candidates to address what they will do to alleviate poverty and end hunger in the US and worldwide. Holt will be moderating the first presidential debate at Hofstra University on 26 September. | Activists are hoping the candidates will also address the needs of the still huge number of Americans living in poverty. On Wednesday, the Vote to End Hunger coalition plan to deliver a petition to Lester Holt, NBC newscaster and host of the first presidential debate, urging him to push the presidential candidates to address what they will do to alleviate poverty and end hunger in the US and worldwide. Holt will be moderating the first presidential debate at Hofstra University on 26 September. |
| More than 42 million Americans, including 13.1 million children, struggled with hunger in 2015, the coalition said. | More than 42 million Americans, including 13.1 million children, struggled with hunger in 2015, the coalition said. |