Census data shows US poverty rate drops to lowest on record, but experts are cautious

By: Shalina Chatlani

Outlets: Stateline

Published: September 15, 2026

Words: 659

Last Updated: 20 hours, 34 minutes ago

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The official poverty rate in the United States dipped slightly by half a percentage point last year to a historic low of 10.2%, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday.

The supplemental poverty rate, a more holistic figure that includes an individual’s non-cash resources, remained essentially unchanged at 13.1%, according to the bureau’s annual poverty report. The report measured 2025 numbers in comparison with 2024 and previous years.

The median household income …

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