The U.S. Census Bureau recently released Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008, a report from the Current Population Survey. 

 

According to the report, real median household income fell in the U.S. between 2007 and 2008, from $52,163 to $50,303.  Real median household income fell in both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.  The metropolitan income in 2008 was $51,853, compared to $40,785 in nonmetro areas - a gap of $11,068.  Median household income fell 3.7 percent in metro areas, and 3.3 percent in nonmetro areas.

 

The overall poverty rate in the U.S. increased from 12.5 percent in 2007 to 13.2 percent in 2008.  Within metro areas, the poverty rate increased from 11.9 to 12.9 percent, while the nonmetro poverty rate changed from 15.4 percent to 15.1 percent, which is not statistically significant.

 

Changes in health insurance coverage from 2007 to 2008 were not statistically significant.  In the U.S, 15.4 percent of people were without health insurance coverage.  In metro areas, 15.4 percent of people were without health insurance coverage, compared to 15.2 percent of the nonmetro population.