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Poverty Rate Rises In LA County, California

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Census Bureau data show more than 16 percent of Los Angeles County residents lived in poverty in 2009 -- up from 15 percent from the year before.

The data released Tuesday and reported in the Los Angeles Times means about 1.5 million county residents are living on less than $11,000 per year, or less than $22,000 for a family of four.

The median household income declined almost a thousand dollars in 2009 to about $54,500.

Statewide, more than 5 million people were living in poverty last year, the highest number in 11 years.

The national poverty rate is 14.3 percent, with more than 43 million people living below the poverty line last year.

© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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