Wealth gap continues to widen in America

Another interesting set of stats that came out of last week's income/poverty numbers from the Census Bureau measured income inequality.

Basically, the numbers point to what we hear everyone say: The rich get richer, the poor get poorer and the middle class is shrinking.

The CB report didn't include Delaware stats, but the national numbers are telling.

Between 2000 and 2009, the poorest 10 percent of American households saw their incomes drop 8 percent, to $12,120. But the richest 5 percent of households saw their incomes drop just 0.5 percent during the same period, to $180,001 or more.

How accurate are the poverty numbers?

If you really want to geek out on the new poverty stats, here's an opinion piece on CNN from a couple of economists about different ways to measure poverty.

It's here, http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/09/20/meyer.sullivan.census.poverty/.

Basically, they say the Census Bureau doesn't count income from government anti-poverty programs.

A Data-Filled Fall

Looks like we'll have plenty of stuff to keep us busy for a long time.

A Data-Filled Fall - The Director's Blog

Recession takes a toll on Delaware and its working poor

The latest Census Bureau report shows how deeply the recession cut into the lives of Delaware's working poor.

Experts had predicted a big increase in the poverty rate. Sure enough, the poverty rate increased to 14.3% last year nationwide, up from 13.2% in 2008.

The growth was even more dramatic in Delaware: from 9.6% in 2008 to 12.3% in 2009.

Along with the poverty rate growth, the report showed what we could all feel in our own wallets. Inflation continues to eat away at our earning power, which has dropped by thousands of dollars in the past decade.

And when people lose their jobs, they also lose health insurance. In Delaware, 13.4% of residents lack health insurance, the highest figure since the Census Bureau began tracking the number in 1999.

Those are the numbers. But I wanted to meet the people behind them, so I went to Kingswood United Methodist Church on Thursday to talk to the folks who came for a meal at Hope Dining Room. The volunteers -- who come from a variety of churches in the Newark area -- were serving meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans for lunch. As always, I met some people who made a lasting impression on me.

There was Gwen Barrett, who has been looking for work for several months. And John Heron, who has two associates degrees (in culinary arts and hospitality management) but still can't get a job. Both said they were suffering from depression, and I could see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices. But only Gwen was taking medicine for it; John was trying to cope on his own because he doesn't have insurance. They've both been on my mind since meeting them the other day. I hope they find jobs soon.

 Here's the story, Poverty climbed during crunch.