U.S. Poverty Rates Remain the Same

2011 and 2010 figures not statistically different

The Census Bureau reports the number of Americans in poverty stood at 15 percent in 2011.

About 46.2 million people, or nearly 1 in 6, were in poverty. That is not statistically different from the 15.1 percent who were impoverished in 2010.

In all, the number of poor remained at record highs. The figures were better than the expectations of analysts who had predicted an increase due to persistently high unemployment.