Census Bureau to Release New Data on Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

The U.S. Census Bureau will release the consolidated 2006 report on money income, poverty and health insurance coverage for the nation at a news conference on Aug. 28, 2007 at 10 a.m. (EDT). The data are derived from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) to the Current Population Survey (CPS). Simultaneously, the Census Bureau will release data on income, earnings and poverty from the 2006 American Community Survey (ACS) for all areas within the United States with a population of 65,000 or greater.

The Census Bureau’s CPS-ASEC produces the official national estimates of poverty, as well as estimates of money income and health insurance coverage, collecting detailed information on income sources. In addition to the national-level data, the CPS-ASEC consolidated report provides state-level health insurance estimates. Annual state estimates of median household income and poverty will be available in the ACS report.

The Census Bureau simultaneously releases the CPS and ACS income and poverty measures because together the two surveys cover the range of geographic areas from the nation to counties, cities, congressional districts and metro areas.

Measures taking into account the effect of taxes, food stamps and other noncash benefits on income will be released at a later date.

CPS supplementary tables on income, poverty and health insurance coverage will be added to the Census Bureau’s Internet site, http://www.census.gov, as they become available. Additional guidance for data users will clarify when to use the income and poverty estimates from these two surveys and how the surveys differ.

The ACS is the largest survey in the nation and produces the same in-depth socioeconomic data as the decennial census long form but on an annual basis. The ACS provides subnational statistics on a variety of topics such as income, earnings, poverty, educational attainment, housing type, median age and household population.

ACS data released on Aug. 28 will be limited to income and poverty-related topics. A second release on Sept. 12 (embargoed on Sept. 7) will cover a broad range of social, demographic and housing tables and profiles, including education, marital status, ancestry, place of birth, transportation, and veteran status. The third and final release on Sept. 27 (embargoed on Sept. 24) will include key socioeconomic and housing profiles for about 200 selected population groups at the national and state levels, by work location, and for selected group quarters population profiles.

ACS data are provided for about 7,000 areas, including all congressional districts and counties, cities and American Indian and Alaska Native areas of 65,000 population or more. In 2008, ACS data will be available for all areas of 20,000 population or more, and by 2010 multiyear estimates will be provided for all areas, including census blocks groups and tracts.

The Aug. 28 news conference will take place at 10 a.m. EDT in the auditorium at Census Bureau headquarters in Suitland, Md. Bus transportation from the National Press Club will be provided. Media may also view the event live on the Internet, listen on a phone “listen-line” or view and record a live satellite video transmission. A media advisory providing additional information will be issued the week before the event.