New Census Data Released on Income in Mississippi
September 29th, 2010
Yesterday, the U.S. Census Bureau released new data on poverty and income from its American Community Survey. While the state’s poverty rate stayed statistically unchanged from 2008-2009, the state saw a decline in median household income, according to the reports released. The state’s median income is the level at which half of the households have income above the figure and one-half below.
Real median household income in the United States decreased by 2.9 percent, from $51,726 to $50,221 from 2008-2009. In Mississippi, median income estimates went down by the same 2.9 percent, from $37,749 to $36,646. Mississippi’s median household income remains less than its border states.
Click to enlarge
2009 Median Household Income in Mississippi and Surrounding States
The decline in household income is not surprising given the recent recession; however, it illustrates the struggle Mississippi’s working families have been facing. With incomes decreasing, workforce supports, such as Supplemental Nutrition and child care, remain critical for supporting families during these difficult economic times.
While the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has provided some resources to ensure that services like these and others, such as public safety and education, remain available and of a certain level of quality, the funding is set to expire soon. In the absence of additional revenue, lawmakers will need to identify substantial cuts to balance the budget. With significant service reductions already in force, more public sector jobs will be lost, class sizes will increase and access to overall services is likely to decline.
The prospect of severe cuts calls for leaders to examine a balanced approach that includes raising revenues for the short and long term.
Source:
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Surveys Briefs, “Household Income for States: 2008 and 2009,” September 2010
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