Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Statement on Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Report

Nick Kimball, (202) 482-4883, nkimball@doc.gov

COMMERCE SECRETARY GARY LOCKE STATEMENT ON INCOME, POVERTY AND HEALTH INSURANCE REPORT

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Census Bureau today announced that real median household income in the United States fell 3.6% between 2007 and 2008, coinciding with the recession that began in December 2007. Additionally, the number of people covered by private health insurance decreased from 202 million in 2007 to 201 million in 2008.

"Today's data reflect what we knew to be true about the final year of the Bush administration: The typical American family lost ground, more Americans fell into poverty and fewer had private health insurance," U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. "The numbers underscore two important points: One, there is an urgent need to pass health insurance reform to drive down costs for hard-pressed American families. And two, the Recovery Act was crucial for preventing a struggling economy from falling into depression."

The full report is available here: http://www.census.gov/prod/2009pubs/p60-236.pdf