Even in a Booming Economy, Low-Income Families Fall Behind
Despite evidence of a growing national economy, including lower unemployment and a modest decline in the poverty rate, low-income households are not seeing the benefits, according to the annual Prosperity Now Scorecard. The report finds that a high number of jobs in the U.S. still pay wages below the federal poverty level, and that recent policy decisions may further exacerbate inequality for households of color and those with low incomes. Skyrocketing levels of student loan debt and high racial disparities in healthcare are two troubling indicators for the future, according to the researchers.