Poverty Rate Remains High, Gender Poverty Gap Persists. Poverty Rate Fourth Highest In 45 Years. Highest Ever Number Of Poor People. Women’s Legal Defense Fund.

“The poverty report for 2012 released today by the Census Bureau indicates that the poverty rate was 15.0% in 2012, the same as in 2011, but well above the 12.3% rate in 2006, the year prior to the beginning of the ‘Great Recession.’ The continued high poverty rate reflects the Great Recession’s continuing negative impact on employment and income. Overall, 46.5 million people were poor in 2012, 16.1 million children (<age 18), and 30.4 million adults. The child poverty rate was 21.8 %, the adult poverty rate was 12.8%.”