Record poverty in 2010: Census (by Ruth Mantell)
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The 46.2 million people in poverty in 2010 was the largest group for the 52 years that data has been published, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday. The number of people in poverty rose for the fourth consecutive year as the poverty rate climbed to 15.1% -- the highest since 1993 - up from 14.3% in 2009. Meanwhile, real median household income in 2010 was $49,445, down 2.3% from the prior year. Those with health insurance ticked higher to 256.2 million from 255.3 million in 2009.