One in seven Americans is living in poverty, the highest number in the half-century that the government has kept such statistics

Asians were the only ethnic group whose poverty rate did not change substantially; every other race and Hispanics experienced increases in poverty rates. In addition, 51 million Americans were uninsured, as the number of people with health insurance dropped from 255 million to less than 254 million -- the first decrease since the government started keeping track in 1987. The number would have been worse because 6.5 million fewer people got insurance through their jobs, but it was offset by a leap in government-backed health insurance. More than 30% of Americans now get coverage from the government.

Related:

Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009