"WASHINGTON — The number of Americans living in poverty rose by 1.1 million to 37 million last year, despite a robust economy that created 2.2 million new jobs. It was the fourth consecutive year poverty has risen."

"The number of people without health insurance rose by 800,000 to 45.8 million. But the number with health insurance also increased by 2 million, to 245.3 million. Employer-based health coverage declined, while more people joined government programs such as Medicaid. As a result, the percentage of uninsured remained basically unchanged at 15.7%."

"• Poverty. Nearly one in four blacks and more than one in five Hispanics remained in poverty, defined as annual income of less than $19,307 for a family of four. The rate for Asians dropped by 2 percentage points, to fewer than one in 10. The poverty rate for children was 17.8%, up slightly from 17.6% in 2003."

USA Today regarding 2004