U.S. Poverty at 11-Year High

The downward trend in personal income is expected to continue throughout 2009 and into 2010.

"Experts said they expected the official poverty rate, which rose to 13.2% of the nation from 12.5% in 2007, to keep climbing this year and next, reversing the progress made in the 1990s.

With the U.S. unemployment rate averaging 8.9% this year and increasing almost every month, compared with 5.8% in 2008, incomes are likely to deteriorate further as well.

The median household income -- the point at which half were more and half were less -- fell 3.6% to $50,303 last year from 2007, the Census Bureau said."