Measuring 50 Years 

of Economic Change

Using the March Current Population Survey

1987

◆

1977 ◆

◆7691

1957

◆

1947 ◆ 1997 ◆

Current Population Reports

P60-203

U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
Acknowledgments

Arthur F. Jones, Jr. prepared the figures and their accompanying text, and

Shirley L. Smith prepared the introductory text, appendixes, and appendix

tables for this report under the direction of Edward J. Welniak, Jr., Chief of

the Income Statistics Branch. Diana Marz provided statistical assistance and

Doris Sansbury provided clerical assistance. Charles T. Nelson, Assistant

Division Chief for Income and Poverty, Housing and Household Economic

Statistics Division, provided overall direction. Genny Burns of the

Demographic Statistical Methods Division conducted sampling review.

U.S. Census Bureau field representatives and telephone interviewers collected

the data. The staff of the Administrative and Customer Services Division,

Walter C. Odom, Chief, were responsible for publication planning, design,

composition, editorial review, and printing planning and procurement.

Janet S. Sweeney provided the graphics art and produced the charts.

Patricia A. Heiston edited the document and coordinated the

publication process.
U.S. Department of Commerce

William M. Daley, Secretary

Economics and Statistics Administration

Robert J. Shapiro, Under Secretary for Economic Affairs

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

James F. Holmes, Acting Director

Measuring 50 Years 

of Economic Change

Using the March Current Population Survey

1987

◆

1977 ◆

◆7691

1957

◆

1947 ◆ 1997 ◆

Issued September 1998
Economics and Statistics

Administration

Robert J. Shapiro,

Under Secretary for Economic Affairs

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

James F. Holmes,

Acting Director

Bradford R. Huther,

Deputy Director

Paula J. Schneider,

Principal Associate Director for Programs

Nancy M. Gordon,

Associate Director for Demographic Programs

HOUSING AND HOUSEHOLD

ECONOMIC STATISTICS DIVISION

Daniel H. Weinberg, Chief

Suggested Citation

U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, P60-203, Measuring 50 Years of Economic Change

Using the March Current Population Survey, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1998.

For sale by Superintdent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

ECONOMICS

AND STATISTICS

ADMINISTRATION
 of Data Via

Media

 data shown in this report, users may

f information based on the March

e Current Population Survey (CPS)

et. Data users can access tables showing

and poverty distributions by various

racteristics; the public-use microdata

; and press briefings through the Census

age at:

us.gov

bjects A to Z” and choosing either

verty” from the list of topics.

S. Census Bureau

Historical income and poverty tables can beaccessed directly athttp://www.census.gov/hhes/income/histinc/index.htmlFacsimiles of these Internet sites are shown on thefollowing page of this report.Users may send requests for data or questions regardingthe data via E-mail to the Housing and HouseholdEconomic Statistics Division of the Census Bureau athhes-info@census.gov
nsus.gov)

Historical Income and Poverty Page(http://www.census.gov/hhes/income/histinc/index.html)

S. Census Bureau
i

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Contents

Text

Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................................................................1

Where Do the Data Come From? ........................................................................................................................................................1

How Are the Data Used? ......................................................................................................................................................................1

Who Has Access to the Data? (Confidentiality Issues) .....................................................................................................................2

Who Uses the Data? .............................................................................................................................................................................2

A Brief History of the Current Population Survey .............................................................................................................................3

Notes ....................................................................................................................................................................................................4

Symbols Used in Tables .......................................................................................................................................................................4

Figures

Income of People

1.1 Median Income Displays Strong Growth ...............................................................................................................................7

1.2 Per Capita Income Is Also on the Rise ....................................................................................................................................8

1.3 The Income of Blacks Has Remained Below That of Whites and Asians and Pacific Islanders ......................................9

1.4 Black Per Capita Income Lags Behind Incomes of Whites and Asians and Pacific Islanders ....................................... 10

1.5 The Distance Between Black and White Income Has Lessened ....................................................................................... 11

1.6 Median Income of Women Still Far Below That of Men ................................................................................................... 12

1.7 The Median Income of Women Is Rising Relative to That of Men .................................................................................. 13

1.8a Wage and Salary Income for Women Is Still Well Below That of Men ............................................................................ 14

1.8b The Percentage of Women With Wage and Salary Income Has Increased Sharply Since 1947 .................................... 14

1.9a Women’s Total Earnings Is on the Rise ............................................................................................................................... 15

1.9b Women’s Percent Share of the Labor Force Pie Has Increased Since 1967 ..................................................................... 15
ii

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

1.10 The Increasing Importance of Education Is Reflected in Income Growth for Men ........................................................ 16

1.11 Women Have Experienced Increases in Income at All Educational Levels..................................................................... 17

1.12 Until Recently, the Income of Young Men Was Greater Than That of Their Fathers’ .................................................... 19

1.13 Over Time, the Income of Young Women Has Been Consistently Higher Than That of Their Mothers’ ..................... 20

Income of Families

2.1 Growth of Median Family Income Has Slowed Over the Past 20 Years .......................................................................... 23

2.2 Black Family Income Remains Well Below White and Asian and Pacific Islander Family Income ............................. 24

2.3 Average Family Size Declines While Median Family Income Growth Slows ................................................................. 25

2.4a. Married-Couple Families Fare Better Economically Than Their Single Counterparts .................................................... 26

2.4b. Although Married Couples Fare Better Economically, They Are Decreasing as a Proportion of Total Families ......... 26

2.5a Married-Couple Median Family Income Grows as Wives Enter the Labor Force ........................................................... 27

2.5b. Wives Are an Increasingly Important Component of the Labor Force ............................................................................. 27

2.6 The Trend in Income of Families With and Without Children Has Reversed Recently .................................................. 28

2.7 Family Income Inequality Has Increased ............................................................................................................................ 30

2.8 The Average Income-to-Poverty Ratio for Families by Fifths Is Another Measure of Income Inequality .................... 31

2.9 Inequality Exists According to Shares of Aggregate Income

 Received by Top and Bottom Fifths of the Distribution .................................................................................................. 32

Income of Households

3.1 Median Household Income Displays Cyclical Pattern ....................................................................................................... 35

3.2 Asians and Pacific Islanders Have the Highest Median Household Income ................................................................... 36

3.3 Black Household Income Has Increased Noticeably ......................................................................................................... 37

3.4a Median Income of Family Households Is More Than Twice That of Nonfamily Households ...................................... 38

3.4b The Percentage of Family Households Has Declined Over Time ..................................................................................... 38

3.5 Household Income Inequality Has Shown a Steady Increase ........................................................................................... 39

3.6 Hispanic Households Display Greater Growth in Income Inequality Than Do Black and White Households ............ 40
iii

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

3.7 The Share of Aggregate Household Income by Fifths Also Shows

 Growing Income Inequality Among Households............................................................................................................. 41

Poverty

4.1 Poverty for Most Races Has Declined Since 1959 ............................................................................................................. 45

4.2 Poverty Among the Elderly Has Been on the Decline, While It Has Increased for Children ......................................... 46

4.3 Single-Parent Families Have the Highest Poverty Rate ...................................................................................................... 47

Appendixes

A. Definitions and Explanations.............................................................................................................................................. A-1

B. A Brief History of the March Current Population Survey Income Supplement and Processing ...................................B-1

C. Time Series Estimates of Income .........................................................................................................................................C-1

D. Source and Accuracy of Estimates ..................................................................................................................................... D-1

Appendix Tables

A-1. Average Poverty Threshold for a Family of Four and the Consumer

 Price Indexes (CPI-U and CPI-U-X1): 1959 to 1997 ..................................................................................................... A-9

A-2. Poverty Thresholds in 1997, by Size of Family and Number of Related Children Under 18 Years Old .................. A-10

C-1. Annual Average Consumer Price Index (CPI-U): 1947 to 1997 ......................................................................................C-2

C-2. Median Income of People 15 Years Old and Over by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Gender: 1947 to 1997 .................C-3

C-3. Total CPS Population and Per Capita Money Income by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1967 to 1997 ............................C-6

C-4. Black-to-White Income Ratio for People: 1967 to 1997 .................................................................................................C-7

C-5. Women’s Income as a Percent of Men’s Income: 1947 to 1997 ......................................................................................C-8

C-6. Median Wage or Salary Income of People by Gender: 1947 to 1997 .............................................................................C-9

C-7. Women’ Earnings as a Percent of Men’s Earnings: 1960 to 1997 ................................................................................ C-10

C-8. Median Income of People 25 Years Old and Over by Educational Attainment and Gender: 1958 to 1997 ............. C-11

C-9. Median Income of People by Age and Gender: 1947 to 1997 ..................................................................................... C-14
iv

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

C-10. Median Family Income by Race and Hispanic Origin of Householder: 1947 to 1997 ............................................. C-18

C-11. Median Family Income by Size of Family: 1947 to 1997 ............................................................................................. C-20

C-12. Median Family Income by Type of Family and Wife’s Labor Force Status: 1947 to 1997 ....................................... C-26

C-13. Median Family Income by Presence of Children Under 18 Years Old: 1974 to 1997 .............................................. C-29

C-14. Gini Ratios for Families: 1947 to 1997 ............................................................................................................................ C-30

C-15. Average Income-to-Poverty Ratios for Families by Income Fifths: 1967 to 1997 ..................................................... C-31

C-16. Share of Aggregate Income Received by Each Fifth and Top 5 Percent of Families: 1947 to 1997........................ C-32

C-17. Median Household Income by Race and Hispanic Origin of Householder: 1967 to 1997....................................... C-33

C-18. Median Income of Family Households Compared With Nonfamily Households: 1980 to 1997 .............................. C-34

C-19. Gini Ratios for Households by Race and Hispanic Origin of Householder: 1967 to 1997 ........................................ C-35

C-20. Share of Aggregate Income Received by Each Fifth and Top 5 Percent of Households: 1967 to 1997 ................... C-36

C-21. Poverty Rate of People by Age: 1966 to 1997 ................................................................................................................ C-37

C-22. Poverty Status of People by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1959 to 1997 ........................................................................ C-38

C-23. Poverty Status of Families by Type of Family: 1959 to 1997 ....................................................................................... C-40

D-1. Description of the March Current Population Survey ...................................................................................................... D-2

D-2. March CPS Coverage Ratios ............................................................................................................................................... D-4

D-3. CPS Standard Error Parameters for Poverty, Income, and Nonincome Characteristics: 1997 ..................................... D-5

D-4. CPS Factors to Apply to a and b Parameters for Estimates Prior to 1997....................................................................... D-7

D-5. CPS Standard Error Parameters for Poverty, Income, and Nonincome

 Characteristics of Hispanics: 1972 to 1983 ..................................................................................................................... D-8

D-6. CPS Standard Error Parameters for Poverty, Income, and Nonincome Characteristics of

 Asians and Pacific Islanders: 1997................................................................................................................................... D-9

D-7. CPS Year-to-Year Correlation Coefficients for Poverty and Income Estimates ........................................................... D-10
1

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Measuring 50 Years of Economic Change

Using the March Current Population Survey

While watching the television or listening

to the radio, you might hear a news report stating that the latest Census Bureau

figures show median household income

increased by 1.9 percent between 1996

and 19971

, or you might read in a newspaper that the poverty rate for people declined from 13.7 percent in 1996 to 13.3

percent in 1997.2 Have you ever wondered where these data come from?

Who can access the data? How can

people use them? For the past 50 years,

researchers and analysts have used the

annual income and earnings estimates

based on data collected in the March

Current Population Survey (CPS) to chart

the effectiveness of government programs, gauge the economic well-being of

the country, develop marketing strategies

for businesses, and assess the impact of

changing demographic patterns.

Introduction

This chartbook provides a graphic overview of changes in income over the past

50 years. The first section focuses on income of people, section two looks at the

income of families, the third section deals

with income statistics about households,

and the final section contains data on

poverty.

Where Do the Data

Come From?

The CPS—jointly sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Bureau of the Census—provides monthly

data on employment and unemployment.

Each month the Census Bureau conducts

the CPS by having field representatives

either telephone or personally visit a

large representative sample of households throughout the country. In addition to the labor market questions, every

March, field representatives ask people

additional questions about their jobs, the

income they received, if they had health

insurance, and if they participated in various government programs during the

previous calendar year. They also ask

where everyone in the household lived

1 year ago. The latest March (March

1998) survey sample consisted of approximately 50,000 households nationwide.

How Are the Data Used?

The BLS uses the basic CPS data to update employment and unemployment figures every month. The Census Bureau

uses data from the March income supplement to measure changes in income, estimate the number of people and families

in poverty, estimate the number of people

without health insurance, and trace the

migration patterns of Americans from

one part of the country to another, among

other topics. In addition to the BLS and

the Census Bureau, other agencies also

use the CPS to collect data:

◆ The biennial Child Support supplement sponsored by the Office of

1

See Money Income in the United States: 1997

(with Separate Data on Valuation of Noncash

Benefits), Current Population Reports, Series P60-

200, September 1998. 2

See Poverty in the United States: 1997, Current

Population Reports, Series P60-201, September

1998.
2

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)

of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) measures the effectiveness of child support enforcement efforts and their effect on

reducing applications for welfare.

◆ The Tobacco Use supplement sponsored by the National Cancer Institute evaluates the effectiveness of its

American Stop Smoking Intervention

Study program.

◆ The biennial Veterans supplement

sponsored by the BLS and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs analyzes the characteristics of disabled

veterans, determines the number of

veterans who served in Vietnam,

measures the effectiveness of current

veterans’ benefits programs, and

helps plan future programs and facilities for veterans.

◆ The Displaced Worker supplement

sponsored by the BLS and the Department of Labor’s Employment and

Training Administration measures the

number of workers who lost a job in

the last 5 years for involuntary reasons such as plant closings and layoffs. Using these statistics,

policymakers establish the need for

and scope of the Job Training Partnership Act programs and assess the

extent of economic recovery in declining industries.

The Census Bureau also sponsors several

other supplements on behalf of the federal government:

◆ The annual School Enrollment

supplement tracks trends in school

enrollment, dropout rates, and relationships between educational attainment and labor force activity.

◆ Election officials formulate policies

relating to the process for voting and

registration based on the Voting and

Registration supplement taken once

every 2 years.

◆ Using the Marital History and Fertility supplement, government and

private analysts project future population growth; analyze child-spacing

patterns and marital stability; and

produce estimates of potential needs

families may have for governmental

assistance, such as welfare, child

care, and maternal health care for

single-parent households.

Who Has Access to the Data?

(Confidentiality Issues)

Federal law requires that all information

provided by people participating in the

CPS remain confidential. Only sworn

Census Bureau employees see the actual

records. The Census Bureau uses these

records for statistical purposes only and

no other agency may access them. The

law provides heavy penalties of imprisonment and fines for anyone disclosing

confidential information contained in

these records. Responses to all questions

in the CPS are voluntary.

The Census Bureau compiles and organizes the information into meaningful

statistical summaries (reports). These reports are available to the public, as well

as to government and private business.

In addition, the Census Bureau makes

available a public use file that does not

contain information that would identify a

specific household, address, or person.

Who Uses The Data?

The Census Bureau receives many calls

from all segments of the population
3

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

requesting data from the CPS. The

Congress uses these data to gauge the effectiveness of government programs, as

well as understand the economic wellbeing of households, families, and

people in the country. Federal, state, and

local governments use the data in planning for schools, transportation systems,

and public assistance. Students use CPS

data to learn about the characteristics of

American households, families, or

people. Business owners use the data to

expand or relocate their businesses.

A Brief History of the Current

Population Survey

In 1940, the Work Projects Administration (WPA) began measuring unemployment in the United States on a continuing

basis through the Sample Survey of Unemployment. In 1942, the Census Bureau assumed responsibility for this survey and renamed it the Monthly Report

on the Labor Force (MRLF). The MRLF

focused on employment rather than unemployment.

The Census Bureau refined and enlarged

the MRLF several times between 1942

and 1947. In 1947, the Census Bureau

renamed the MRLF the Current Population Survey and began collecting a variety of other social and demographic statistics in “supplements” to the main labor

force survey. One of the supplements the

Census Bureau added was the March Income Supplement.3

 In 1959, the Bureau

of Labor Statistics became a co-sponsor

of the CPS. Appendix B of this report

contains a more detailed look at the evolution of the March Income Supplement.

3

Before 1956, data on income were collected in

April of each year.
4

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Notes

All income amounts used in this

chartbook are in 1997 CPI-U adjusted

dollars.

The Asian and Pacific Islander population, like the Hispanic-origin population,

consists of many distinct groups which

differ in socio-economic characteristics,

culture, and recency of immigration.

Since there are differences within the individual groups, data users should exercise caution when interpreting aggregate

data for these population groups.

People of Hispanic origin may be of any

race.

Data for Hispanics are not available for

years before 1972. Data about Asians

and Pacific Islanders are not available for

years before 1988. Data on Blacks were

combined with other races for years before 1967.

Measures of income inequality and aggregate shares after 1993 are not strictly

comparable with those for earlier years

because of a significant change in measurement methodology. See Appendix B

for further details.

Symbols Used in Tables

The Census Bureau uses the following

abbreviations and symbols in this publication:

NA Not available.

X Not applicable.
5

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

The Income

of People

Between April 1948 and March 1979, the Census Bureau

collected income data for people 14 years old and over.

Starting in 1980, the Census Bureau began collecting

income data for people 15 years old and over.
6

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998
7

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

◆ Median income of people has

grown 58 percent since 1947.

◆ Nevertheless, median income

is sensitive to the ups and

downs of the business cycle.

Median Income Displays Strong Growth

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997

Real median income of people,

percent change since 1947

Figure 1.1

Recessionary period

Note: See Table C-2.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

58.3%

0%
8

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Per Capita Income Is Also on the Rise

Real per capita income, percent change since 1967

Figure 1.2

Recessionary period

Note: See Table C-3.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

76.6%

0%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997

◆ Despite being tempered by

business cycle downturns in

the 1970s and 1980s, real

per capita income has grown

substantially since 1967.

◆ Overall, per capita income

has grown nearly 77 percent

between 1967 and 1997.
9

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

How does income

vary across racial and

ethnic groups?

Although income varies greatly

with each group, Whites have

traditionally had higher incomes

than other race groups — Asians

and Pacific Islanders being the

notable exception — according

to the median income of people.

Income data from the Current

Population Survey (CPS)

suggests that, in terms of real

median income, Black income

has increased since 1967, while

Hispanic income has not

increased since 1975.

◆ In 1997 median income was

highest for Asians and Pacific

Islanders ($19,713), followed

closely by Whites ($19,393*).

◆ Incomes of Blacks and

Hispanics are well below

those of Whites and Asians

and Pacific Islanders.

*This difference between Whites and Asians

and Pacific Islanders is not statistically

significant.

The Income of Blacks Has Remained Below That

of Whites and Asians and Pacific Islanders

Median income of people, 

in thousands of 1997 dollars

Figure 1.3

Recessionary period

White

Black

Asian and 

Pacific Islander

Hispanic 

(may be of 

any race)

Note: See Table C-2.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

0

5

10

15

20

25

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997
10

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Black Per Capita Income Lags Behind Incomes 

of Whites and Asians and Pacific Islanders

Per capita income, 

in thousands of 1997 dollars

Figure 1.4

Recessionary period

White

Black

Asian and 

Pacific Islander

Hispanic 

(may be of 

any race)

Note: See Table C-3.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

0

5

10

15

20

25

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997

◆ Per capita income — as is

the case with most income

measures — tells a story of

income disparity across races.

◆ White per capita income

exceeds that of all other race

and ethnic groups. Asians

and Pacific Islanders follow

closely behind Whites, while

Blacks and Hispanics lag

far behind.
11

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

◆ The ratio of Black-to-White

income for men increased by

21 percent since 1967. The

ratio of Black-to-White

income for women has

experienced similar growth

over the same period.

◆ While Blacks have gained

economic ground compared

with Whites, there is still an

income gap between the

two races.

The Distance Between Black and White 

Income Has Lessened

Black-to-White income ratio x 100

Figure 1.5

Recessionary period

Men

Women

Note: See Table C-4.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

78.7

57.2

94.6

69.3

0

20

40

60

80

100

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997
12

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Median Income of Women Still 

Far Below That of Men

Median income of men and women,

in thousands of 1997 dollars

Figure 1.6

Recessionary period

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997

Men

Women

Note: See Table C-2.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

$25,212

$13,703

$14,790

$6,745

The Gender Gap

Despite the persistence of an

income gap favoring men,

women are an increasingly

dynamic part of the Nation’s

labor force. Women’s income,

although still far behind that of

men, has increased steadily over

the past 50 years. Women also

comprise a substantially larger

share of the total labor market

than they did 50 years ago.

◆ There has always been a

substantial gap between the

median income of men

and women.

◆ While men’s median income

grew to $25,212, in 1997

women’s median income

was $13,703.
13

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

The Median Income of Women Is Rising 

Relative to That of Men

Ratio of women’s median income to 

men’s median income x 100

Figure 1.7

Recessionary period

Note: See Table C-5.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

45.6

30.3

54.4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997

◆ Despite the sizeable income

difference favoring men,

women are gaining ground.

◆ Since 1965 — the low point

when women received 30 cents

for every dollar received by

men — women have

experienced a sizeable increase

in income relative to men.

◆ Women now realize 54 cents

on every dollar of income

received by men.
14

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

◆ Women lag behind men in

terms of wages and salary

income.

◆ Median wage and salary

income for all women workers

in 1997 was $16,849 compared

with $26,939 for men—

63 percent below men.

◆ Even though there is a

difference in wage and salary

income and work experience,

women are an increasingly

larger presence in the

labor market.

◆ The number of women

receiving wage and salary

income — as a percentage

of all wage and salary

income recipients —

increased from 32 percent in

1947 to 48 percent in 1997.

The Percentage of Women With Wage and Salary

Income Has Increased Sharply Since 1947

Women

47.6%

Men

52.4%

1997

Women

31.9%

Men

68.1%

1947

Figure 1.8b

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Recessionary period

Wage and Salary Income for Women 

Is Still Well Below That of Men

Median wage and salary income, in thousands of 1997 dollars

Figure 1.8a

Note: See Table C-6.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Men

Women

$15,413

$7,693

$16,849

$26,939

0

10

20

30

40

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997
15

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

◆ Women’s total earnings —

which is comprised of wage and

salary income as well as selfemployment income — as a

percentage of men’s earnings

has increased steadily over the

last 20 years.

◆ Women who were full-time,

year-round workers earned

74 cents in 1997 for every

dollar earned by men — a

significant improvement over

the low of 57 cents they

received in 1973.

Recessionary period

Women’s Total Earnings Is on the Rise

Women’s earnings as a percent of men’s 

(full-time, year-round workers)

Women’s Percent Share of the Labor Force Pie

Has Increased Since 1967

Women

40.7%

Men

59.3%

1997

Women

28.8%

Men

71.2%

1967

Figure 1.9a

Figure 1.9b

Note: See Table C-7.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 

March Current Population Survey.

60.7%

74.2%

(Percent of full-time, year-round workers)

56.6%

0

20

40

60

80

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997
16

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

The Increasing Importance of Education Is 

Reflected in Income Growth for Men

(Median income in 1997 dollars)

Figure 1.10

1997

1963

Note: See Table C-8.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Less than grade 9 

Grades 9-12

High school 

diploma

Bachelor's degree

or higher

$47,126

$38,496

$25,453

$28,914

$16,818

$24,837

$12,157

$14,700

The Importance

of Education

There are many valid reasons

that prompt individuals to pursue

higher levels of education. One

of the most convincing, though,

is the economic return associated

with increased schooling. This

phenomenon is particularly

strong when considering a

college education: both men and

women with a college education

receive roughly twice the income

of their counterparts with a high

school diploma.

◆ Since 1963, the importance

of a college education has

increased for men. Collegeeducated men had a median

income of $47,126 in 1997,

a 22 percent increase since

1963.

◆ In all other educational

groups, men’s incomes have

actually declined, in real

terms, since 1963.
17

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Women Have Experienced Increases in 

Income at All Educational Levels

(Median income in 1997 dollars)

Figure 1.11

1997

1963

Note: See Table C-8.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Less than grade 9

Grades 9-12

High school

diploma

Bachelor's degree

or higher

$29,781

$19,443

$13,407

$11,028

$8,861

$7,625

$7,505

$4,593

◆ The incomes of women

have risen for all educational

groups since 1963.

◆ One of the biggest increases,

however, is among women

with a bachelor’s degree or

higher, whose incomes have

grown by 53 percent

since 1963.
18

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

How do I measure up. . . ?

People want to know how well-off they

are economically — not just right now, but

relative to past generations (in particular,

their parents’ generation). The CPS

provides data for economists and

sociologists to measure the well-being

of one generation relative to the next by

collecting and reporting income by age

cohort. What we know is that until recently,

men have fared better than their father’s

generation. Since 1987, however, they have

experienced a reversal of fortune, and now

fare worse compared to their father’s

generation. Women, however, showed

continued economic improvement over

preceding generations as their participation

in the labor force has risen.
19

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Until Recently, the Income of Young Men

Was Greater Than That of Their Fathers’

Median income of men, 

in thousands of 1997 dollars

Figure 1.12

Parents

Children

Note: See Table C-9.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

0

10

20

30

40

50

25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 25-34 35-44 45-54 25-34 35-44 25-34

Years of age

1947 ‘67 ‘57 ‘77 ‘67 ‘87 ‘77 ‘97 1957 ‘77 ‘67 ‘87 ‘77 ‘97 1967 ‘87 ‘77 ‘97 1977 ‘97

◆ Men aged 25-34 in 1967 had

more total money income than

did their fathers’ generation,

who were aged 25-34 in

1947.

◆ In 1977, 25- to 34-year-old

men still fared better than

their fathers’ generation of

20 years earlier.

◆ Men aged 25-34 in 1987 were

the first to experience a lower

median income than their

fathers’ generation.

◆ In 1997, the income of 25- to

34-year-old men was also less

than their fathers’ generation.
20

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

◆ Income trends compared across

generations have been much

different for women than for

men. Throughout the last 50

years women have become a

more integral part of the labor

force—as evident by their

increasing labor force

participation and income.

◆ Women aged 25-34 in 1967

had income significantly

higher than that of their

mothers’ generation who

were aged 25-34 in 1947.

◆ Women aged 25-34 in 1977

continued to experience higher

median incomes than their

predecessors of 1957.

◆ In 1987, while men’s incomes

were lower than that of their

fathers’ generation, women’s

incomes increased relative to

their mothers’ generation.

◆ In 1997, young women’s income

was still higher than the income

of their mothers’ generation.

Over Time, the Income of Young Women Has Been 

Consistently Higher Than That of Their Mothers’

Median income of women, 

in thousands of 1997 dollars

Figure 1.13

Parents

Children

Note: See Table C-9.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

0

5

10

15

20

25

25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 25-34 35-44 45-54 25-34 35-44 25-34

Years of age

1947 ‘67 ‘57 ‘77 ‘67 ‘87 ‘77 ‘97 1957 ‘77 ‘67 ‘87 ‘77 ‘97 1967 ‘87 ‘77 ‘97 1977 ‘97
21

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Income of

Families

Families consist of two or more people related by birth,

marriage, or adoption living in the same housing unit.

The Census Bureau started collecting income data on

families in April 1948 (1947 income).

A family may consist of a married couple with or without

children; a single parent with children; or any other

combination of adults and

children related through

birth, marriage, or adoption.

We include single individuals in the tabulations of data

about people and households, but not in those based

on families.
22

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998
23

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Growth of Median Family Income Has 

Slowed Over the Past 20 Years

Real median family income, percent change since 1947

Figure 2.1

Recessionary period

Note: See Table C-10.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

121.7%

0%

-30

0

30

60

90

120

150

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997

◆ Despite strong overall growth

in income during the past 50

years, the growth of real

median family income has

slowed during the past 20 years.

◆ Median family income more

than doubled between 1947 and

1977 increasing from $20,102

to $40,656.

◆ Since 1977, median family

income has grown 9.6 percent

to a level of $44,568.
24

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

◆ White and Asian and

Pacific Islander families

have held a substantial

income advantage over

Black and Hispanic

families.

◆ Median income of Hispanic

families was $28,142 in

1997, not significantly

different from their

1972 level.

Black Family Income Remains Well Below White 

and Asian and Pacific Islander Family Income

Median family income, 

in thousands of 1997 dollars

Figure 2.2

Recessionary period

White

Black

Hispanic 

(may be of any race)

Note: See Table C-10.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997

Asian and Pacific Islander
25

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Average Family Size Declines While Median 

Family Income Growth Slows

Median income in thousands of 1997 dollars

Figure 2.3

Recessionary period

Note: See Table C-11.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Average family size

3.64

3.18

$20,102

$44,568

0

10

20

30

40

50

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997

Median family income

(left scale)

Average (mean) family size

(right scale)

0

1

2

3

4

5

What does family

composition have to do

with income?

According to data collected

and reported by the CPS,

quite a bit. The income of

married-couple families has

traditionally been higher than

the income of other types of

families; this difference has

increased over time, in part

because more wives are now

in the paid labor force.

◆ Between 1947 and 1967,

a period in which average

family size was essentially

unchanged, median family

income grew nearly

75 percent.

◆ Since 1967, average family

size has declined more than

12 percent, during which

time median family income

grew 27 percent.
26

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Married-Couple Families Fare Better Economically

Than Their Single Counterparts

Median income, in thousands of 1997 dollars

Although Married Couples Fare Better Economically, They Are

Decreasing as a Proportion of Total Families

Married

couple

76.6%

1997

Married

couple

86.6%

Male, 

no spouse 

present 

3.3%

1947

Figure 2.4a

Figure 2.4b

Note: See Table C-12.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Recessionary period

Female,

no spouse present

10.1%

Male, no

spouse present

5.5%

Female, no

spouse present

17.9%

$51,591

$32,960

$21,023

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997

Male, no spouse present

Married couple

Female, no spouse present

◆ Married-couple families have

shown the most growth in

median income since 1947,

with an increase of 150 percent.

◆ During this same period,

married-couple families have

declined as a percentage of

total families, a trend

dampening the overall growth

in family income.
27

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Married-Couple Median Family Income Grows as

Wives Enter the Labor Force

Median income, in thousands of 1997 dollars

Wives Are an Increasingly Important 

Component of the Labor Force

1997

Wife not

in paid 

labor force

77.1%

Wife in 

paid labor 

force

22.9%

Wife not

in paid 

labor force

38.3%

Wife in 

paid labor 

force

61.7%

1951

Figure 2.5a

Figure 2.5b

Note: See Table C-12.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Recessionary period

$18,950

$23,901

$60,669

$36,027

Percent of married-couple families with wives in the paid-labor force

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1997 1947 1957 1967 1977 1987

Wife in paid labor force

Wife not in paid labor force

◆ Among married-couple

families, those with wives in

the paid labor force have

higher incomes than those

with wives not in the paid

labor force.

◆ The median income for

married-couple families, with

wives in the paid labor force,

has continued to grow,

whereas the median income

for other married-couple

families has remained flat

since 1973.

◆ Since 1951, the labor force

participation of wives, as a

proportion of all wives, has

nearly tripled to 62 percent.
28

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

The Trend in Income of Families With and Without

Children Has Reversed Recently

Median income, in thousands of 1997 dollars

Figure 2.6

Recessionary period

0

10

20

30

40

50

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997

Children

No children

Note: See Table C-13.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

$41,764

$37,323

$45,624

$43,545

◆ Families with no children

under the age of 18 had

higher median incomes than

their counterparts with

children over the last 9 years.

In 1987, families with no

children had a higher, but

not significantly different,

income than did families

with children.

◆ Prior to 1982, families with

children had a higher median

income than those without

children.
29

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Families and Income Inequality

Income inequality is an issue of interest for

scholars and public policy makers. There are

a number of ways to measure and analyze

income inequality. Perhaps the simplest way

to examine inequality is to examine the

income of different groups (e.g., by race and

gender). More sophisticated researchers

employ techniques such as the Gini

coefficient, which is an index of income

concentration. Regardless of the measure,

there is little debate that there is a great deal

of income inequality among families.

Note: The Census Bureau implemented computer-assisted

interviewing beginning in 1993. The new instrument allowed

the recording of higher income amounts, which increased

measured income growth for the highest income families by

more than their actual incomes rose. The higher recorded

amounts resulted in an over estimate of increased

income inequality.
30

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Family Income Inequality Has Increased 

Percent change in Gini coefficient

Figure 2.7

Recessionary period

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20



1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997

Note: See Table C-14.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

0%

14.1%

◆ The Gini coefficient for

families paints a picture of

increasing income inequality

during the 1980s.

◆ Between 1947 and 1992, the

year before the CPS began

computer-assisted personal

interviewing, the Gini

coefficient increased by

more than 7 percent. Since

1993, there has not been a

significant increase in the Gini.
31

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

The Average Income-to-Poverty Ratio for Families by

Fifths Is Another Measure of Income Inequality

0

2

4

6

8

10

Lowest Second Middle Fourth Highest

Average income-to-poverty ratio

1967

1977

1987

1997

Figure 2.8

Note: See Table C-15.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Fifths of the distribution

◆ The income-to-poverty ratio

is the ratio of each fifth’s

average (mean) income to

the poverty threshold. For

example, an income-to-poverty

ratio of 2 implies average

income is twice that of the

poverty threshold.

◆ The average income-topoverty ratio for the highest

fifth of families in 1997 was

more than 10 times the poverty

threshold, while, the ratio for

the lowest fifth was less

than 1.

◆ The income-to-poverty ratio

for the highest fifth has grown

65 percent since 1967. The

lowest fifth’s income-topoverty ratio is virtually

unchanged since 1967.
32

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Inequality Exists According to Shares of 

Aggregate Income Received by Top and Bottom 

Fifths of the Distribution

0

10

20

30

40

50

Lowest Second Middle Fourth Highest

Percent share of aggregate family income, by fifths

1947

1957

1967

1977

1987

1997

Figure 2.9

Note: See Table C-16.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Fifths of the distribution

◆ Another indicator of greater

income inequality among

families is the share of

aggregate income received

by each fifth of the income

distribution.

◆ Since 1977, the top fifth

of families has received an

increasingly disproportionate

amount of aggregate

family income.

◆ The share of aggregate income

for the top fifth of all families

grew to 47.2 percent, while the

bottom fifth’s share dropped

to 4.2 percent.
33

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Income of

Households

Households consist of all people who occupy a housing

unit. The Census Bureau defines housing units as structures

occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living

quarters. A household includes the related family members

and all unrelated people, such as lodgers, foster children,

wards, or employees who share the housing unit. A

household may also consist of a person living alone in a

housing unit or a group of unrelated people sharing a

housing unit as partners. There are two main types of

households: family and nonfamily. A family household

consists of a family and any unrelated people (unrelated

subfamily members and/or unrelated individuals) sharing the

housing unit. A nonfamily household consists of a person

living alone or with people not related to the householder.

The Census Bureau started collecting data on households

in March 1968.
34

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998
35

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

◆ Real median household

income has grown 17 percent

to a level of $37,005

since 1967.

◆ Despite this increase,

household income has been

sensitive to the ups and

downs of the business cycle.

Median Household Income Displays Cyclical Pattern

Real median household income, 

percent change since 1967

Figure 3.1

Note: See Table C-17.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Recessionary period

0

5

10

15

20

25

1967 1977 1987 1997

0%

17.2%
36

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Household Income and

Race and Ethnicity

As was true for people and for

families, the race and ethnicity

of the householder are strongly

related to median household

income. Since the CPS began

collecting household income data

on Asians and Pacific Islanders

in 1988, they have consistently

received the highest median

household income of any

race group.

◆ Black households, which have

the lowest median household

income, have experienced

household income growth of

approximately 31 percent

since 1967.

Asians and Pacific Islanders Have the Highest 

Median Household Income

Median household income, 

in thousands of 1997 dollars

Figure 3.2

Note: See Table C-17.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Recessionary period

0

10

20

30

40

50

1967 1977 1987 1997

White

Black

Hispanic (may be of any race)

Asian and Pacific Islander

$45,249

$38,972

$26,628

$25,050
37

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

◆ Although their income lags

behind Whites, median

income of Black households

has increased since 1985.

◆ Black median household

income has increased 31

percent since 1967 to a level

of $25,050. Over the same

period, White household

income grew roughly 18

percent to a level of $38,972.

◆ Median income of Hispanic

households fell 4 percent

to $26,628 since 1972.

Black Household Income Has Increased Noticeably

Real median household income, 

percent change since 1967

Note: See Table C-17.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Figure 3.3

Recessionary period

White

Black

31.0%

18.3%

-4.1%

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

1967 1977 1987 1997

Hispanic (may be of any race)
38

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Household Composition

and Its Impact on Income.

As the fabric of society changes,

it is necessary to alter the way we

examine income trends. For

example, it is important to

consider the household

composition when considering

household income trends.

◆ Median income of family

households ($45,347) has

increased approximately 10

percent since 1980, while that

of nonfamily households grew

about 18 percent over the same

period. Due to their relatively

low income level ($21,705),

nonfamily household income

growth has not substantially

bolstered overall growth of

household income.

◆ The growth of nonfamily

households, as a percentage of

all households, from 27 percent

in 1980 to 31 percent in 1997 has

depressed overall median

household income growth.

The Percentage of Family Households Has Declined Over Time

Family

69.1%

Nonfamily

30.9%

1997

Family

73.2%

Nonfamily

26.8%

1980

Figure 3.4b

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Median Income of Family Households Is More 

Than Twice That of Nonfamily Households

Median household income, 

in thousands of 1997 dollars

Figure 3.4a

Note: See Table C-18.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Recessionary period

0

10

20

30

40

50

1967 1977 1987 1997

Nonfamily

Family

$41,270

$18,441

$45,347

$21,705
39

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

◆ Overall, household income

inequality increased by

roughly 9 percent between

1967 and 1992. Between

1993 — the first year in

which the computer-assisted

personal interviews were

used in the March CPS —

and 1997, inequality

was unchanged.

◆ The most consistent period

of the Gini’s growth occurred

during the 1980s.

◆ The Gini index rose from

0.403 to 0.434 between 1980

and 1992 — an increase of

nearly 8 percent. As with

families, the low point

occurred in 1968.

Note: The Census Bureau implemented

computer-assisted interviewing beginning

in 1993. The new instrument allowed the

recording of higher income amounts, which

increased measured income for the highest

income households by more than their

actual incomes rose. The higher recorded

amounts resulted in an over estimate of

increased income inequality.

Household Income Inequality Has 

Shown a Steady Increase

Gini coefficient, percent change since 1967

Figure 3.5

Note: See Table C-19.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Recessionary period

15.0%

0%

-5

0

5

10

15

20



1997 1987 1967 1977
40

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

◆ Growth in household

income inequality within

race and ethnic categories,

as measured by the Gini

coefficient, indicates that

income inequality is

growing faster among

Hispanic households than

among both Black and

White households.

◆ Nonetheless, since the mid1970s income inequality has

increased steadily for both

Black and White households.

◆ Income inequality has also

increased for Hispanic

households.

Hispanic Households Display Greater Growth in Income 

Inequality Than Do Black and White Households

Gini coefficient, percent change since 1967

Note: See Table C-19.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Figure 3.6

Recessionary period

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25







1967 1977 1987 1997

White

Black

Hispanic (may be of any race)
41

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

◆ The share of aggregate

income has decreased for

all but the top fifth of

households during the

previous three decades.

◆ In 1997, the share of aggregate

income received by the highest

fifth of households was more

than 49 percent, while

the lowest fifth received less

than 4 percent.

Note: The Census Bureau implemented

computer-assisted interviewing beginning in

1993. The new instrument allowed the

recording of higher income amounts, which

increased measured income for the highest

income households by more than their actual

incomes rose. The higher recorded amounts

resulted in an over estimate of increased

income inequality.

The Share of Aggregate Household Income 

by Fifths Also Shows Growing Income 

Inequality Among Households

0

10

20

30

40

50

Lowest Second Third Fourth Highest

Percent share of aggregate household income, by fifths

1967

1977

1987

1997

Figure 3.7

Note: See Table C-20.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Fifths of the income distribution
42

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998
43

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Poverty

Poverty data are available back to 1959. The poverty

definition provides a range of income cutoffs or thresholds

for families by their size and number of children under

18 years old. The Census Bureau updates the poverty

thresholds each year based on changes in the annual

average Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).
44

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998
45

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

◆ Of all race groups,

Whites exhibit the lowest

poverty rate.

◆ The poverty rate for Blacks

has remained near 30 percent

over the past 25 years.

Poverty for Most Races Has Declined Since 1959

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1959 1969 1979 1989 1997

Percent of people below the poverty level

White

Black

Hispanic 

(may be of any race)

Asian and Pacific Islander

Recessionary period

Figure 4.1

Note: See Table C-22.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.
46

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

◆ Among all age groups, the

elderly have shown the

largest decline in poverty

rates over time.

◆ The poverty rate for

individuals under the age of

18 has increased since 1969,

as is the case for people aged

18-64. The poverty rate for

children has remained near

20 percent since 1980.

Recessionary period

Poverty Among the Elderly Has Been on the Decline, 

While It Has Increased for Children

Percent of people in poverty

Under age 18

18 to 64 years old

65 years old and over

Figure 4.2

Note: See Table C-21.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1997 1959 1969 1979 1989
47

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

◆ Among families, those with

a female householder — no

husband present — exhibit

the highest rate of poverty

(32 percent).

◆ Married-couple families

have the lowest poverty rate.

Recessionary period

Single-Parent Families Have the 

Highest Poverty Rate

Percent of families in poverty

Female householder,

no spouse present

Married couples

Note: See Table C-23.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Survey.

Figure 4.3

42.6%

10.7%

5.3% 5.2%

13.0%

31.6%

0

10

20

30

40

50

1989 1997 1959 1969 1979

Male householder,

no spouse present
48

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998
A-1

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Appendix A.

Definitions and Explanations

Family

The term “family” refers to a group of

two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who reside together;

the Census Bureau considers all such

people as members of one family. For

example, if the son of the person who

maintains the household and the son’s

wife are members of the household, the

Census Bureau treats them as members

of the parent’s family. Every family must

include a reference person. Two or more

people living in the same household who

are related to one another, but are not related to the householder, form an “unrelated subfamily.” Beginning with the

1980 Current Population Survey (CPS),

the Census Bureau excluded unrelated

subfamilies from the count of families

and unrelated subfamily members from

the count of family members.

Family Households

Family households are households maintained by a family (as defined above).

Members of family households include

any unrelated people (unrelated subfamily members and/or secondary individuals) who may be residing there. The

number of family households will not

equal the number of families since families living in group quarters are included

in the count of families. In addition, the

count of family household members differs from the count of family members in

that the family household members include all people living in the household;

whereas, family members include only

householders and their relatives. (See the

definition of family.)

Gini Ratio

The Gini ratio (or index of income concentration) is a statistical measure of income equality ranging from 0 to 1. A

measure of 1 indicates perfect inequality; that is, one person has all the income and the rest have none. A measure of 0 indicates perfect equality; that

is, all people have equal shares of income. The Census Bureau used sorted

data to compute all Gini ratios appearing in this report. For a more detailed

discussion, see Current Population Reports, Series P-60, No.123.

Householder

The householder refers to the person

(or one of the people) who owns or

rents (maintains) the housing unit. If a

married couple owns the housing unit

jointly, the interviewer may list either

as the householder. The person listed

first is the householder and is the “reference person” to whom the Census

Bureau designates the relationship of

all other household members. The

number of householders is equal to the

number of households. Also, the number of family householders is equal to

the number of families.

Households

Households consist of all people who occupy a housing unit. The Census Bureau

regards a house, an apartment or other
A-2

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

group of rooms, or a single room as a

housing unit when it is occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living

quarters: the occupants do not live and

eat with any other people in the structure

and there is direct access from the outside

or through a common hall.

A household includes the related family members and all the unrelated

people, if any, such as lodgers, foster

children, wards, or employees who

share the housing unit. The Census

Bureau also counts a person living

alone in a housing unit or a group of

unrelated people sharing a housing unit

as partners as a household. The count

of households excludes group quarters.

Income

For each person in the sample 15 years

old and over, the CPS asks questions on

the amount of money income received in

the preceding calendar year from each of

the following sources:

1. Earnings

2. Unemployment compensation

3. Workers’ compensation

4. Social security

5. Supplemental security income

6. Public assistance

7. Veterans’ payments

8. Survivor benefits

9. Disability benefits

10. Pension or retirement income

11. Interest

12. Dividends

13. Rents, royalties, and estates and trusts

14. Educational assistance

15. Alimony

16. Child support

17. Financial assistance from outside

 of the household

18. Other income

It should be noted that although the income statistics refer to receipts during the

preceding calendar year, the demographic characteristics, such as age, labor

force status, and family or household

composition, are as of the survey date.

The income of the family/household

does not include amounts received by

people who were members during all or

part of the income year if these people no

longer resided in the family/household at

the time of interview. However, the CPS

collects income data for people who are

current residents but did not reside in the

household during the income year.

Data on consumer income collected in

the CPS by the Census Bureau cover

money income received (exclusive of

certain money receipts such as capital

gains) before payments for personal income taxes, social security, union dues,

medicare deductions, etc. Therefore,

money income does not reflect the fact

that some families receive part of their income in the form of noncash benefits,

such as food stamps, health benefits,

rent-free housing, and goods produced

and consumed on the farm. In addition,

money income does not reflect the fact

that noncash benefits are also received

by some nonfarm residents which often

take the form of the use of business

transportation and facilities, full or partial

payments by business for retirement programs, medical and educational expenses, etc. Data users should consider

these elements when comparing income

levels. Moreover, readers should be

aware that for many different reasons

there is a tendency in household surveys

for respondents to underreport their income. Based on an analysis of independently derived income estimates, the

Census Bureau determined that respondents report income earned from wages

or salaries much better than other sources
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

of income and that the reported wage and

salary income is nearly equal to independent estimates of aggregate income.

The Census Bureau collects data for the

following income sources.

Earnings. The Census Bureau classifies earnings from longest job (or selfemployment) and other employment

earnings into three types:

1. Money wage or salary income is the

total income people receive for work performed as an employee during the income year. This category includes

wages, salary, armed forces pay, commissions, tips, piece-rate payments, and cash

bonuses earned, before deductions are

made for items such as taxes, bonds,

pensions, and union dues.

2. Net income from nonfarm selfemployment is the net money income

(gross receipts minus expenses) from

one’s own business, professional enterprise, or partnership. Gross receipts include the value of all goods sold and services rendered. Expenses include items

such as costs of goods purchased, rent,

heat, power, depreciation charges, wages

and salaries paid, and business taxes (not

personal income taxes). In general, the

Census Bureau considers inventory

changes in determining net income from

nonfarm self-employment; replies based

on income tax returns or other official

records do reflect inventory changes.

However, when respondents do not report values of inventory changes, interviewers will accept net income figures

exclusive of inventory changes. The

Census Bureau does not include the

value of saleable merchandise consumed

by the proprietors of retail stores as part

of net income.

3. Net income from farm selfemployment is the net money income

(gross receipts minus operating expenses) from the operation of a farm

by a person on their own account as an

owner, renter, or sharecropper. Gross

receipts include the value of all products sold, payments from government

farm programs, money received from

the rental of farm equipment to others,

rent received from farm property if

payment is made based on a percent of

crops produced, and incidental receipts

from the sale of items such as wood,

sand, and gravel. Operating expenses

include items such as cost of feed, fertilizer, seed, and other farming supplies;

cash wages paid to farmhands; depreciation charges; cash rent; interest on farm

mortgages; farm building repairs; and

farm taxes (not state and federal personal

income taxes). The Census Bureau does

not include the value of fuel, food, or

other farm products used for family living as part of net income. In determining

farm self-employment income, the Census Bureau considers inventory changes

in determining net income only when

they are accounted for in replies based

on income tax returns or other official

records which reflect inventory changes;

otherwise, the Census Bureau does not

take inventory changes into account.

Unemployment compensation includes

payments the respondent received from

government unemployment agencies or

private companies during periods of unemployment and any strike benefits the

respondent received from union funds.

Workers’ compensation includes payments people receive periodically from

public or private insurance companies for

injuries received at work.
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Social security includes social security

pensions and survivors’ benefits and

permanent disability insurance payments made by the Social Security

Administration prior to deductions for

medical insurance. The Census Bureau

does not include medicare reimbursements for health services as social

security benefits.

Supplemental security income includes

federal, state, and local welfare agency

payments to low-income people who are

65 years old or over or people of any age

who are blind or disabled.

Public assistance or welfare payments

include cash public assistance payments

low-income people receive, such as aid

to families with dependent children

(AFDC, ADC), temporary assistance to

needy families (TANF), general assistance, and emergency assistance.

Veterans’ payments include payments

disabled members of the armed forces or

survivors of deceased veterans receive

periodically from the Department of Veterans Affairs for education and on-thejob training, and means-tested assistance

to veterans.

Survivor benefits include payments

people receive from survivors’ or widows’ pensions, estates, trusts, annuities,

or any other types of survivor benefits.

Respondents can report payments from

ten different sources: private companies or unions; federal government

(Civil Service); military; state or local

governments; railroad retirement;

workers’ compensation; Black lung

payments; estates and trusts; annuities

or paid-up insurance policies; and

other survivor payments.

Disability benefits include payments

people receive as a result of a health

problem or disability (other than those

from social security). Respondents can

report payments from ten sources: workers’ compensation; companies or unions;

federal government (Civil Service); military; state or local governments; railroad

retirement; accident or disability insurance; Black lung payments; state temporary sickness; or other disability payments.

Pension or retirement income includes

payments people receive from eight

sources: companies or unions; federal

government (Civil Service); military;

state or local governments; railroad

retirement; annuities or paid-up insurance policies; individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Keogh, or 401(k) payments; or other retirement income.

Interest income includes payments

people receive (or have credited to accounts) from bonds, treasury notes,

IRAs, certificates of deposit, interestbearing savings and checking accounts, and all other investments that

pay interest.

Dividends include income people receive from stock holdings and mutual

fund shares. The CPS does not include

capital gains from the sale of stock

holdings as income.

Rents, royalties, and estates and trusts

include the net income people receive

from the rental of a house, store, or other

property, receipts from boarders or lodgers, net royalty income, and periodic

payments from estate or trust funds.

Educational assistance includes Pell

Grants; other government educational assistance; any scholarships or grants; or financial assistance students receive from

employers, friends, or relatives not residing in the student’s household.
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Child support includes all periodic payments a parent receives from an absent

parent for the support of children, even if

these payments are made through a state

or local government office.

Alimony includes all periodic payments people receive from ex-spouses.

Alimony excludes one-time property

settlements.

Financial assistance from outside of the

household includes periodic payments

people receive from nonhousehold members. This type of assistance excludes

gifts or sporadic assistance.

Other income includes all other payments people receive regularly that are

not included elsewhere on the questionnaire. Some examples are state programs

such as foster child payments, military

family allotments, and income received

from foreign government pensions.

Government transfers include payments people receive from the following

sources: (1) unemployment compensation, (2) state workers’ compensation, (3)

social security, (4) supplemental security

income (SSI), (5) public assistance, (6)

veterans’ benefits, (7) government survivor benefits, (8) government disability

benefits, (9) government pensions, and

(10) government educational assistance.

The Census Bureau does not count the

following receipts as income: (1) capital

gains people receive (or losses they incur) from the sale of property, including

stocks, bonds, a house, or a car (unless

the person was engaged in the business

of selling such property, in which case

the CPS counts the net proceeds as income from self-employment); (2) withdrawals of bank deposits; (3) money borrowed; (4) tax refunds; (5) gifts; and (6)

lump-sum inheritances or insurance payments.

The Census Bureau combines all sources

of income into two major types:

1. Total money earnings is the algebraic

sum of money wages and salary and

net income from farm and nonfarm

self-employment.

2. Income other than earnings is the algebraic sum of all sources of money

income except wages and salaries

and income from self-employment.

Income-to-Poverty Ratios

Average income-to-poverty ratios represent the average ratio of family or unrelated individual income to their appropriate poverty threshold. Ratios below 1.00

indicate that the average income for the

respective family or unrelated individual

is below the official definition of poverty,

while a ratio of 1.00 or greater indicates

income above the poverty level. A ratio

of 2.25, for example, indicates that on

average, income was 125 percent above

the appropriate poverty threshold.

Mean (Average) Income

Mean (average) income is the amount

obtained by dividing the total aggregate

income of a group by the number of

units in that group. The means (averages) for households, families, and unrelated individuals are based on all households, families, and unrelated

individuals, respectively. The means (averages) for people are based on people

15 years old and over with income.

Median Income

Median income is the amount which divides the income distribution into two
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

equal groups, half having incomes above

the median, half having incomes below

the median. The medians for households, families, and unrelated individuals

are based on all households, families,

and unrelated individuals, respectively.

The medians for people are based on

people 15 years old and over with

income.

Per Capita Income

Per capita income is the average income

computed for every man, woman, and

child in a particular group. The Census

Bureau derived per capita income by dividing the total income of a particular

group by the total population in that

group (excluding patients or inmates in

institutional quarters).

Population Coverage

This report includes the civilian noninstitutional population of the United States

and members of the armed forces in the

United States living off post or with their

families on post, but excludes all other

members of the armed forces.

The Census Bureau collected the information on the Hispanic population

shown in this report in the 50 states and

the District of Columbia. Therefore, the

Hispanic population does not include

residents of outlying areas or U.S. territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the

Virgin Islands.

Poverty Definition

Poverty statistics presented in this report

are based on a definition developed by

Mollie Orshansky of the Social Security

Administration (SSA) in 19641

 and revised in 1969 and 1981 by interagency

committees. The Bureau of the Budget

(BoB) established this definition as the

official definition of poverty for statistical

use in all Executive departments in 1969

(in Circular No. A-46); after BoB became

the Office of Management and Budget,

they reconfirmed the definition in Statistical Policy Directive No. 14.

The original poverty definition provided

a range of income cutoffs or thresholds

adjusted by such factors as family size,

gender of the family head, number of

children under 18 years old, and farmnonfarm residence. At the core of this

definition of poverty was the economy

food plan, the least costly of four nutritionally adequate food plans designed by

the Department of Agriculture. Based on

the Department of Agriculture’s 1955

Household Food Consumption Survey,

the SSA determined that families of three

or more people spent approximately onethird of their after-tax money income on

food; accordingly, they set poverty

thresholds for families of three or more

people at three times the cost of the

economy food plan. They used different

procedures to calculate poverty thresholds for families of two people and

people living alone in order to compensate for the relatively larger fixed expenses of these smaller units. For families

of two people, they multiplied the cost of

the economy food plan by a factor of 3.7

(also derived from the 1955 survey). For

unrelated individuals (one-person units),

instead of using a multiplier, they calculated poverty thresholds as a fixed proportion of the corresponding thresholds

for families of two people. Annual updates of these SSA poverty thresholds

1

For a detailed discussion of the original SSA

poverty thresholds, see Mollie Orshansky, Counting

the Poor: Another Look at the Poverty Profile, Social

Security Bulletin, Vol. 28, No. 1, January 1965, pp.

3-29 (reprinted in Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 51,

No. 10, October 1988, pp. 25-51); and Who’s Who

Among the Poor: A Demographic View of Poverty,

Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 28, No. 7, July 1965,

pp. 3-32.
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

were based on price changes of the items

in the economy food plan.

Deliberations of a federal interagency

committee in 1969 resulted in the adoption of the following two modifications to

the original SSA definition of poverty:2

1. They retained the SSA thresholds for

nonfarm families for the base year

1963, but based annual adjustments

in the levels on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rather than

on changes in the cost of foods in the

economy food plan.

2. They raised the farm thresholds from

70 to 85 percent of the corresponding nonfarm levels. The combined

impact of these two modifications resulted in an increase in the tabulated

totals for 1967 of 360,000 poor families and 1.6 million poor people.

In 1981, another interagency committee recommended three additional

modifications in the poverty definition.

These modifications were implemented

in the March 1982 CPS as well as the

1980 census:

1. Elimination of separate thresholds for

farm families;

2. Elimination (by averaging) of separate thresholds for female-householder families and “all other” families (earlier termed “male-headed”

families);

3. Extension of the detailed poverty

threshold matrix to make the largest

family size category “nine people or

more”.

For further details, see the section,

“Changes in the Definition of Poverty,”

in Current Population Reports, Series

P-60, No. 133.

The poverty thresholds increase each

year by the same percentage as the annual average Consumer Price Index

(CPI). Table A-1 shows the CPI and the

corresponding thresholds for a family of

four for the 1959-97 period. The poverty

thresholds are currently adjusted using

the annual average CPI-U base year of

1982-84 = 100. From 1980 through

1987, the CPI-U base year was 1967 =

100. Before 1980, the CPI-U base year

was 1963 = 100. Table A-2 shows the

full poverty threshold matrix for 1997.

For further information on the development of the poverty thresholds and the

subsequent changes in them, see Gordon

M. Fisher, “The Development and History of the Poverty Thresholds,” Social

Security Bulletin, Vol. 55, No. 4, Winter

1992, pp. 3-14.

Symbols

The Census Bureau uses the following

abbreviations and symbols in this

publication:

NA Not available.

X Not applicable.

Unrelated Individuals

The term “Unrelated individuals” refers

to people 15 years and over (other than

inmates of institutions) who are not living

with any relatives. An unrelated individual may:

2

We recalculated the poverty thresholds for

1959-67 on this basis, and tabulated revised poverty

population figures for those years using the revised

thresholds. We have published these revised 1959-

67 poverty population figures in Census Bureau

reports issued since August 1969 (including the

present report). Because of this revision, poverty

statistics from documents dated before August 1969

are not comparable with current poverty statistics.
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

◆ Constitute a one-person household;

◆ Be part of a household including one

or more other unrelated individuals

or families;

or

◆ Reside in group quarters, such as a

rooming house.

Thus, a widow living by herself or with

one or more other people not related to

her; a lodger not related to the householder or to anyone else in the household; and a servant living in an

employer’s household with no relatives

are examples of unrelated individuals.

Work Experience

A person with work experience is one

who, during the preceding calendar year,

did any work for pay or profit or worked

without pay on a family-operated farm or

business at any time during the year, on a

part-time or full-time basis. A full-time

worker is one who worked 35 hours or

more per week during a majority of the

weeks worked during the preceding calendar year. A year-round worker is one

who worked for 50 weeks or more during the preceding calendar year. A fulltime, year-round worker is a person who

worked full time (35 or more hours per

week) and 50 or more weeks during the

previous calendar year.
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table A-1.

Average Poverty Threshold for a Family of Four and the Consumer Price Indexes

(CPI-U and CPI-U-X1): 1959 Through 1997

[1982-84=100]

Year

Average

threshold for

a family of

four persons1 CPI-U CPI-U-X12

1997......................... 16,400 160.5 160.5

1996......................... 16,036 156.9 156.9

1995......................... 15,569 152.4 152.4

1994......................... 15,141 148.2 148.2

1993......................... 14,763 144.5 144.5

1992......................... 14,335 140.3 140.3

1991......................... 13,924 136.2 136.2

1990......................... 13,359 130.7 130.7

1989......................... 12,674 124.0 124.0

1988......................... 12,092 118.3 118.3

1987......................... 11,611 113.6 113.6

1986......................... 11,203 109.6 109.6

1985......................... 10,989 107.6 107.6

1984......................... 10,609 103.9 103.9

1983......................... 10,178 99.6 99.6

1982......................... 9,862 96.5 95.6

1981......................... 9,287 90.9 90.1

1980......................... 8,414 82.4 82.3

1979......................... 7,412 72.6 74.0

1978......................... 6,662 65.2 67.5

Year

Average

threshold for

a family of

four persons1 CPI-U CPI-U-X12

1977......................... 6,191 60.6 63.2

1976......................... 5,815 56.9 59.4

1975......................... 5,500 53.8 56.2

1974......................... 5,038 49.3 51.9

1973......................... 4,540 44.4 47.2

1972......................... 4,275 41.8 44.4

1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,137 40.5 43.1

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,968 38.8 41.3

1969 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,743 36.7 39.4

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,553 34.8 37.7

1967 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,410 33.4 36.3

1966 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,317 32.4 35.2

1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,223 31.5 34.2

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,169 31.0 33.7

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,128 30.6 33.3

1962 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,089 30.2 32.8

1961 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,054 29.9 32.5

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,022 29.6 32.2

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,973 29.1 31.6

1

For years before 1981, average threshold for a nonfarm family of four is shown.

2

Factors before 1967 are extrapolated.
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table A-2.

Poverty Thresholds in 1997, by Size of Family and Number of Related Children

Under 18 Years Old

[Dollars]

Size of family unit Weighted

average

thresholds

Related children under 18 years old

None One Two Three Four Five Six Seven

Eight or

more

One person (unrelated individual). ..... 8,183

Under 65 years old ............... 8,350 8,350

65 years old and over ............ 7,698 7,698

Two people ....................... 10,473

Householder under 65 years old..... 10,805 10,748 11,063

Householder 65 years old and over . . 9,712 9,701 11,021

Three people ...................... 12,802 12,554 12,919 12,931

Four people ...................... 16,400 16,555 16,825 16,276 16,333

Five people ....................... 19,380 19,964 20,255 19,634 19,154 18,861

Six people ....................... 21,886 22,962 23,053 22,578 22,123 21,446 21,045

Seven people ..................... 24,802 26,421 26,586 26,017 25,621 24,882 24,021 23,076

Eight people ...................... 27,593 29,550 29,811 29,274 28,804 28,137 27,290 26,409 26,185

Nine people or more ............... 32,566 35,546 35,719 35,244 34,845 34,190 33,289 32,474 32,272 31,029
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Appendix B.

A Brief History of the March Current Population

Survey Income Supplement and Processing

The Census Bureau has compiled income

estimates annually since 1948. The

March income supplement to the Current

Population Survey (CPS)1

 is the primary

source of these data.

The CPS asked only two income questions the first year: 1) “How much did....

earn in wages and salaries in 1947...” and

2) “How much income from all sources

did....receive in 1947.”

In 1949, the Census Bureau expanded

the income questions to show wage and

salary, farm self-employment, nonfarm

self-employment, and all other nonearned sources (for example, interest,

dividends, veterans allowances, pensions, or rent) separately.

In 1950, the Census Bureau developed a

standard set of income questions. The

CPS used these questions for the next 16

years. This set of questions (four in total)

differentiated the receipt of wages and

salary from the two types of self-employment (farm and nonfarm) and income

from sources other than earnings (social

security, dividends, interest, unemployment, pensions, etc.).

From 1947 through 1961, the Census

Bureau derived income estimates solely

from fully reported cases since analysts

assumed that the demographic characteristics of nonrespondents were the same

as respondents. They found, however,

that nonrespondents tended to have

higher incomes, worked at higher skilled

occupations, and were more likely to

work full-time, year-round than respondents.

In 1962, analysts began systematically

assigning values to missing income items

in an effort to reduce the bias in income

estimates that resulted from nonresponse.

The Census Bureau called this newly developed process, which “imputed” missing information from the last known respondent with similar characteristics, a

“hot deck” procedure. This first “hot

deck” procedure, imputed all income

data if any were missing.2

In 1966, Census Bureau analysts modified the “hot deck” procedure to impute only the missing income entries.3

The five basic steps for editing missing

income and work experience data were

(1) work experience imputation; (2)

earnings-work experience consistency 1

Before 1956, the Census Bureau collected data

on income in April of each year. It started collecting

work experience and income jointly in 1970. For

years before 1970, the Census Bureau collected

work experience data in February for 3/4 of the

sample returning in March. They collected the

work experience data on the remaining 1/4 of the

March sample in April.

2

The Census Bureau made an exception to this

procedure if total income reported exceeded

$10,000. When this occurred, the imputation

procedure filled the missing income sources as $0. 3

At this time, the survey only asked four income

questions.
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

editing; (3) earnings imputation; (4) earnings consistency edits after imputation;

and (5) imputation for income other than

earnings.

By March 1967, the CPS supplement included eight income questions. The five

additional items asked about income

from: (1) social security; (2) interest; (3)

dividends; (4) rent; and (5) a single item

that includes public assistance, welfare,

workers’ and unemployment compensation, alimony, child support, and any

other regular contributions from

nonhousehold members.

Other 1967 editing and imputation revisions included: (1) expanding the set of

socioeconomic characteristics used in the

imputations, (2) eliminating inconsistency between responses such as workers

with no earnings or work experience, and

(3) using imputed earnings data for other

income imputation.

In March 1968, the Census Bureau combined interest, dividends, rents, and royalties into one question and added separate questions for public assistance and

unemployment and workers’ compensation. The CPS supplement used this battery of questions until March 1975.

The Census Bureau instituted several

procedural changes between 1967 and

1975. These procedural changes involved: (1) extending interviewing one

additional week (1969); (2) collecting

work experience and income data simultaneously (1970); and (3) including royalties with dividend and estates income

(1971).

In 1975, the Census Bureau made several

more adaptations to the questionnaire design and content to enhance the collection of certain income types. These

changes increased the number of income

questions asked on the income supplement from eight to eleven.

Also in 1975, as in 1967, Census Bureau

computer operations underwent major

large scale enhancements. These enhancements extended the capabilities to

edit and impute values for missing or inconsistent data. In addition, the Census

Bureau developed procedures to maintain, whenever possible, the correlation

between income, longest job, and work

experience.

To preserve the correlation between earnings, work experience, and longest job

information, the Census Bureau imputed

all missing information from one “similar” donor. The previous procedure imputed missing earnings, work experience,

and longest job data in separate stages.

The editing and imputation process still

imputed missing data for income other

than earnings in a separate stage, however, the revised procedure used reported

“other income” recipiency patterns as a

matching variable for imputing missing

earnings, work experience, and job data

when available. The procedures also imputed missing data for husbands and

wives as a unit to try to prevent inconsistencies between amounts and sources

when imputing missing data to either the

husband or wife.

The Census Bureau did not make any

change in the format of questions asked

on the March CPS income supplement

from 1975 through 1979. As part of a

continuing effort to improve the quality

of income data collected in the CPS, the

Census Bureau tested a modified questionnaire in March 1979 and fully implemented a revised version in the 1980

CPS. The new questionnaire allowed for

the identification of more than 50 sources

of income and the recording of 27 different amounts. The modifications included

rewording questions, asking questions
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

specifically about veterans’ benefits, and

adding household screening questions to

reduce the respondent’s burden.

Resource limitations prohibited the Census Bureau from updating the processing

system to take full advantage of the expanded income questions until 1989. To

accommodate the existing processing

system, analysts initially collapsed income sources and amounts into the original eleven income categories.

In March 1985, analysts developed new

weighting procedures for the Hispanicorigin population. The revised processing system also included a change in the

procedure for imputing interest income to

nonrespondents.

Before March 1986, the CPS procedures

coded earnings from the longest job to a

maximum of $99,999. In an effort to

adapt to continually rising levels of annual income, the March 1986 CPS increased this amount to $299,999.

In 1989, the Census Bureau phased out

support of the existing computer language used by the 1976 system. This

improvement, plus the need to accommodate the many recent changes to the

CPS income questionnaire, caused the

Census Bureau to again make major revisions to its March CPS processing system

to accomplish three main objectives.

They included expanding the editing and

imputation procedure to reflect the full

detail of the questionnaire, imputing from

one source data not provided on questions included in supplements, and retaining all reported data during the

nonrespondent/respondent matching

process.4

The March 1994 CPS income and demographic supplement was the first to use

computer-assisted survey information

collection (CASIC) technology for its entire data collection process.

The advent of CASIC allowed the Census Bureau to eliminate a large number

of potential reporting errors. First, the

modified process added more queries to

the survey instrument requiring field representatives to enter a reporting period

for the amount (that is, annual, monthly,

bi-weekly, weekly, other) followed by a

verification of the calculated annual

amount. Second, the process established

lower and upper income tolerances for

income sources. Annual amounts reported outside these tolerances activate a

series of screens indicating to the field

representative that the amount recorded

is suspect and requires verification.

These verifications helped to eliminate

any keystroke errors on the part of the

field representatives.

The Census Bureau also introduced a revised edit and allocation procedure for

race information in January 1996. This

new procedure assigns respondents reporting “Other (unspecified) race” in the

race question to one of the four major

race categories: White; Black; American

Indian, Eskimo, and Aleut; and Asian and

Pacific Islander. The Census Bureau’s

new editing and allocation procedure was

in response to the rising proportion of the

CPS population reporting their race as

“Other.”

4

This was a major point of criticism under the old

processing system. For a further critique of the old

system, see Lillard, Lee, and Smith, James P., “ What

Do We Really Know About Wages? The Importance

of Nonreporting and Census Imputation,” Journal of

Political Economy, 1986 Volume 94, No. 3, page

489+.
B-4

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

For more detailed descriptions of the

various changes to the March Current

Population Survey, see the following:

◆ “Computer Methods to Process Missing Income and Work Experience

Information,” ASA Proceedings of

Social Statistics Section, 1969.

◆ “Effects of the March Current Population Survey’s New Processing System

on Estimates of Income and Poverty,”

ASA Proceedings of the Social Statistics Section, 1990.

◆ Ryscavage, Paul, “Surge in Growing

Income Inequality?” Monthly Labor

Review, August, 1995.

◆ Current Population Reports, Series

P-60, No. 105, Money Income in 1975

of Families and Persons in the United

States, section entitled “Revised 1974

Money Income Statistics.”

◆ Current Population Reports, Series

P-60, No. 123, section entitled “The

March 1979 CPS Income Experiment.”

◆ Current Population Reports, Series

P-60, No. 151, section entitled “Revised Survey Procedures.”

◆ Current Population Reports, Series

P-60, No. 156, section entitled “Revisions to the Earnings Question on the

March 1986 CPS.”

◆ Current Population Reports, Series

P-60, No. 166, section entitled “Revisions to the March CPS Processing

System.”

◆ Current Population Reports, Series

P60-188, Appendix C, “Conversion to

a Computer-Assisted Questionnaire.”
C-1

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Appendix C.

Time Series Estimates of Income

This appendix includes time series estimates of income and poverty by race and

Hispanic origin. We adjusted the money

income estimates in this appendix for

changes in cost of living. This adjustment

allows data users to more accurately assess changes in economic well-being over

Recessionary Periods

Peak month Year Trough month Year

November.................. 1948 October ................... 1949

July ....................... 1953 May ...................... 1954

August .................... 1957 April ..................... 1958

April ...................... 1960 February .................. 1961

December .................. 1969 November ................. 1970

November.................. 1973 March .................... 1975

January .................... 1980 July ...................... 1980

July ....................... 1981 November ................. 1982

July ....................... 1990 March .................... 1991

Source: National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., 1050 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138

time. The Census Bureau uses the experimental Consumer Price Index (CPI-U-X1)

(provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) for 1967 through 1982 and the

CPI-U for 1983 through 1997, to adjust

for changes in the cost of living.1

 See

the Current Population Reports, P-60,

1

The Census Bureau derived the experimental

Consumer Price Indexes (CPI-U-X1) included in this

appendix for years prior to 1967 by applying the

CPI-U-X1-to-CPI-U ratio for 1967 to the 1947

through 1966 CPI-U index.

No. 174, Money Income of Households,

Families, and Persons in the United

States: 1990, for a discussion of the uses

of the CPI-U-X1 and CPI-U as price deflators.

To assist the data users in the interpretation of the time series data, we have included the following table showing the

periods of recession from 1946 to present.
C-2

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-1.

Annual Average Consumer Price Index (CPI-U): 1947 to 1997

Year CPI-U1

1947 ...................... 24.2

1948 ...................... 26.2

1949 ...................... 25.9

1950 ...................... 26.2

1951 ...................... 28.3

1952 ...................... 28.8

1953 ...................... 29.0

1954 ...................... 29.2

1955 ...................... 29.1

1956 ...................... 29.6

1957 ...................... 30.5

1958 ...................... 31.4

1959 ...................... 31.6

Year CPI-U1

1960 ..................... 32.2

1961 ..................... 32.5

1962 ..................... 32.8

1963 ..................... 33.3

1964 ..................... 33.7

1965 ..................... 34.2

1966 ..................... 35.2

1967 ..................... 36.3

1968 ..................... 37.7

1969 ..................... 39.4

1970 ..................... 41.3

1971 ..................... 43.1

1972 ..................... 44.4

Year CPI-U1

1973 ..................... 47.2

1974 ..................... 51.9

1975 ..................... 56.2

1976 ..................... 59.4

1977 ..................... 63.2

1978 ..................... 67.5

1979 ..................... 74.0

1980 ..................... 82.3

1981 ..................... 90.1

1982 ..................... 95.6

1983 ..................... 99.6

1984 ..................... 103.9

1985 ..................... 107.6

Year CPI-U1

1986 ..................... 109.6

1987 ..................... 113.6

1988 ..................... 118.3

1989 ..................... 124.0

1990 ..................... 130.7

1991 ..................... 136.2

1992 ..................... 140.3

1993 ..................... 144.5

1994 ..................... 148.2

1995 ..................... 152.4

1996 ..................... 156.9

1997 ..................... 160.5

1

The Census Bureau uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ experimental Consumer Price Index (CPI-U-X1) for 1967 through 1982 and the CPI-U for 1983 through 1997. The

Census Bureau derived the CPI-U indexes for years prior to 1967 by applying the 1967 CPI-U-X1-to-CPI-U ratio to the 1947 to 1966 CPI-U indexes.

Note: Data users can compute the percentage changes in prices between earlier years’ data and 1997 by dividing the annual average Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) for 1997 by

the annual average for the earlier year(s).
C-3

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table C-2.

Median Income of People 15 Years Old and Over by Race, Hispanic Origin,

and Gender: 1947 to 1997

[People 15 years old and over beginning with March 1980, and people 14 years old and over as of March of the following year

for previous years. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]

Race, Hispanic origin,

and year

Both sexes Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

ALL RACES

1997................ 191,615 18,756 94,168 25,212 97,447 13,703

1996................ 189,997 17,991 93,439 24,381 96,558 13,109

1995 24 ............. 188,073 17,667 92,066 23,761 96,007 12,775

1994 23 ............. 186,402 17,266 91,254 23,523 95,147 12,418

1993 22 ............. 184,611 17,135 90,194 23,439 94,417 12,269

1992 21 ............. 183,692 17,048 90,175 23,400 93,517 12,257

1991................ 181,222 17,309 88,653 24,121 92,569 12,345

1990................ 180,465 17,662 88,220 24,920 92,245 12,366

1989................ 178,852 17,935 87,454 25,749 91,399 12,457

1988................ 177,177 17,549 86,584 25,653 90,593 12,053

1987 20 ............. 175,374 17,100 85,713 25,129 89,661 11,720

1986................ 172,293 16,908 84,471 25,062 87,822 11,144

1985 19 ............. 170,163 16,420 83,631 24,330 86,531 10,765

1984 18 ............. 167,738 16,092 82,183 24,098 85,555 10,609

1983................ 164,739 15,663 80,909 23,577 83,830 10,183

1982................ 162,227 15,348 79,722 23,420 82,505 9,884

1981................ 161,828 15,199 79,688 24,000 82,139 9,723

1980................ 159,487 15,490 78,661 24,436 80,826 9,595

1979 17 ............. 158,050 15,733 78,129 25,548 79,921 9,439

1978................ 147,473 16,200 75,609 26,001 71,864 9,673

1977................ 139,422 16,327 74,015 25,708 65,407 10,008

1976 16 ............. 135,945 16,218 72,775 25,469 63,170 9,662

1975 15 ............. 132,041 16,176 71,234 25,283 60,807 9,667

1974 15 14 ........... 130,505 16,498 70,863 26,138 59,642 9,531

1973................ 126,416 17,016 69,387 27,394 57,029 9,508

1972 13 ............. 121,961 16,928 67,474 26,931 54,487 9,395

1971 12 ............. 119,089 16,259 66,486 25,706 52,603 8,967

1970................ 116,655 16,237 65,008 25,921 51,647 8,693

1969................ 114,106 16,282 63,882 26,189 50,224 8,685

Race, Hispanic origin,

and year

Both sexes Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111,045 16,024 62,501 25,459 48,544 8,595

1967 11 ............. 108,287 15,223 61,444 24,553 46,843 7,963

1966 10 ............. 104,150 15,051 60,085 24,194 44,065 7,469

1965 9

.............. 101,317 14,957 59,157 23,573 42,160 7,138

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100,237 14,355 58,533 22,132 41,704 6,901

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98,050 13,871 57,686 21,742 40,364 6,613

1962 8

.............. 95,612 13,721 56,624 21,393 38,988 6,567

1961 7

.............. 93,915 13,329 55,839 20,687 38,076 6,316

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91,698 13,154 55,172 20,337 36,526 6,285

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88,665 13,236 54,285 20,301 34,380 6,212

1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86,883 12,646 53,543 19,132 33,340 6,011

1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85,579 12,872 52,877 19,349 32,702 6,315

1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83,839 13,203 52,016 19,526 31,823 6,230

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81,237 12,818 51,446 18,521 29,791 6,177

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77,427 12,615 49,712 17,551 27,715 6,376

1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77,046 12,929 49,667 17,827 27,379 6,453

1952 6

.............. 76,392 12,901 49,242 17,304 27,150 6,392

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72,676 12,477 47,497 16,742 25,179 5,927

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72,236 12,074 47,585 15,744 24,651 5,838

1949 5

.............. 71,768 11,241 48,258 14,538 23,510 5,949

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70,095 11,572 47,370 14,678 22,725 6,181

1947 4

.............. 68,292 11,852 46,813 14,790 21,479 6,745

WHITE

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161,752 19,393 80,400 26,115 81,352 13,792

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160,783 18,708 80,041 25,521 80,741 13,258

1995 24 ............. 159,630 18,273 79,022 25,165 80,608 12,971

1994 23 ............. 158,264 17,891 78,220 24,550 80,045 12,595

1993 22 ............. 157,134 17,781 77,650 24,415 79,484 12,513
C-4

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Race, Hispanic origin,

and year

Both sexes Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1992 21 ............. 156,351 17,787 77,467 24,488 78,885 12,541

1991................ 155,299 18,067 76,578 25,212 78,721 12,634

1990................ 155,046 18,463 76,480 25,997 78,566 12,669

1989................ 153,790 18,723 75,858 27,004 77,933 12,700

1988................ 152,740 18,422 75,247 27,079 77,493 12,350

1987 20 ............. 151,587 17,793 74,647 26,710 76,940 12,019

1986................ 149,414 17,557 73,827 26,447 75,587 11,364

1985 19 ............. 147,862 17,009 73,222 25,523 74,640 10,974

1984 18 ............. 146,139 16,699 72,162 25,437 73,977 10,735

1983................ 144,240 16,337 71,444 24,818 72,796 10,347

1982................ 142,101 16,050 70,477 24,760 71,624 10,018

1981................ 141,917 15,890 70,351 25,466 71,566 9,831

1980................ 139,994 16,052 69,420 25,992 70,573 9,648

1979 17 ............. 139,086 16,276 69,247 26,689 69,839 9,528

1978................ 129,968 16,804 67,273 27,233 62,695 9,789

1977................ 122,787 17,066 65,974 26,927 56,813 10,161

1976 16 ............. 119,972 16,909 64,946 26,850 55,026 9,743

1975 15 ............. 116,565 16,818 63,629 26,560 52,936 9,767

1974 15 14 ........... 115,426 17,169 63,388 27,381 52,038 9,639

1973. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111,823 17,849 62,082 28,744 49,741 9,599

1972 13 ............. 108,084 17,807 60,565 28,247 47,519 9,456

1971 12 ............. 105,670 17,089 59,729 26,950 45,941 9,116

1970................ 103,735 17,014 58,447 27,246 45,288 8,806

1969................ 101,368 17,162 57,343 27,558 44,025 8,889

1968................ 98,701 16,999 56,219 26,680 42,482 8,851

1967 11 ............. 96,315 16,262 55,270 25,848 41,045 8,202

1966 10 ............. 92,738 15,954 54,056 25,498 38,682 7,820

1965 9 .............. 90,272 15,942 53,276 24,826 36,996 7,570

1964................ 89,363 15,274 52,749 23,508 36,614 7,230

1963................ 87,455 14,966 51,972 23,164 35,483 6,931

Race, Hispanic origin,

and year

Both sexes Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1962 8

.............. 85,304 14,934 51,071 22,788 34,233 6,914

1961 7

.............. 83,735 14,544 50,423 21,872 33,312 6,697

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81,789 14,310 49,788 21,413 32,001 6,739

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79,128 14,552 48,991 21,378 30,137 6,664

1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77,628 13,867 48,423 20,323 29,205 6,538

1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76,506 14,098 47,833 20,565 28,673 6,909

1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74,706 14,396 47,038 20,697 27,668 6,859

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72,571 13,822 46,586 19,547 25,985 6,905

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69,259 13,648 45,019 18,490 24,240 7,085

1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68,729 13,941 44,991 18,762 23,738 7,156

1952 6

.............. (NA) 14,066 (NA) 18,140 (NA) 7,462

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) 13,379 (NA) 17,587 (NA) 6,925

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) 12,858 (NA) 16,595 (NA) 6,494

1949 5

.............. (NA) 12,158 (NA) 15,313 (NA) 6,631

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) 12,399 (NA) 15,376 (NA) 6,941

1947 4

.............. (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

BLACK

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,631 15,348 9,671 18,096 11,961 13,048

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,227 14,152 9,410 16,869 11,817 12,042

1995 24 ............. 20,946 13,564 9,339 16,857 11,607 11,544

1994 23 ............. 20,650 13,265 9,199 16,225 11,450 11,419

1993 22 ............. 20,214 12,578 8,947 16,222 11,267 10,561

1992 21 ............. 20,181 12,186 9,104 14,945 11,076 10,167

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,670 12,423 8,943 15,275 10,727 10,389

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,506 12,683 8,820 15,802 10,687 10,227

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,383 13,052 8,806 16,321 10,577 10,193

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,990 12,843 8,610 16,340 10,380 9,971

1987 20 ............. 18,652 12,374 8,488 15,845 10,164 9,818

Table C-2.

Median Income of People 15 Years Old and Over by Race, Hispanic Origin,

and Gender: 1947 to 1997 —Con.

[People 15 years old and over beginning with March 1980, and people 14 years old and over as of March of the following year

for previous years. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-5

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Race, Hispanic origin,

and year

Both sexes Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1986................ 18,104 11,935 8,285 15,848 9,819 9,615

1985 19 ............. 17,738 11,785 8,127 16,062 9,611 9,363

1984 18 ............. 17,311 11,403 7,851 14,595 9,460 9,522

1983................ 16,689 11,137 7,580 14,450 9,109 8,932

1982................ 16,211 11,233 7,290 14,838 8,921 8,836

1981................ 16,288 11,228 7,459 15,143 8,829 8,734

1980................ 15,983 11,393 7,387 15,619 8,596 8,932

1979 17 ............. 15,821 11,677 7,288 16,521 8,533 8,671

1978................ 14,930 11,813 6,971 16,314 7,959 8,814

1977................ 14,338 11,977 6,777 15,979 7,562 8,774

1976 16 ............. 13,838 11,894 6,651 16,166 7,188 9,181

1975 15 ............. 13,455 11,581 6,485 15,879 6,969 8,873

1974 15 14 ........... 13,188 11,693 6,409 16,965 6,779 8,702

1973................ 14,593 12,514 6,394 17,386 6,513 8,664

1972 13 ............. 13,877 12,345 6,043 17,109 6,274 8,835

1971 12 ............. 13,419 11,514 6,024 16,076 6,151 7,988

1970................ 12,920 11,760 5,844 16,163 5,844 8,017

1969................ 12,738 11,296 5,870 16,030 5,728 7,495

1968................ 12,345 10,741 5,715 15,829 5,629 7,020

1967 11 ............. 11,972 10,227 5,572 14,794 5,397 6,455

ASIAN AND

PACIFIC ISLANDER

1997................ 6,745 19,713 3,330 25,046 3,415 14,312

1996................ 6,503 18,983 3,277 23,910 3,226 14,970

1995 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,119 18,166 3,095 23,340 3,025 13,546

1994 23 ............. 4,476 18,774 2,218 24,790 2,258 13,388

1993 22 ............. 4,839 18,504 2,330 24,037 2,509 13,734

1992 21 ............. 5,162 17,797 2,558 22,754 2,605 13,580

1991................ 4,751 17,386 2,358 23,130 2,393 12,993

1990................ 4,568 18,197 2,235 23,816 2,333 13,614

Race, Hispanic origin,

and year

Both sexes Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,346 19,617 2,112 26,677 2,235 14,508

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,215 17,327 2,123 24,993 2,093 12,542

HISPANIC

ORIGIN 3

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,641 13,150 9,585 16,216 8,055 10,260

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,048 12,642 9,305 15,791 7,744 9,702

1995 24 ............. 16,054 12,396 8,577 15,629 7,478 9,403

1994 23 ............. 15,673 12,458 8,375 15,703 7,298 9,328

1993 22 ............. 15,261 12,238 8,208 15,205 7,053 8,997

1992 21 ............. 14,805 12,504 8,056 15,338 6,749 9,504

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,022 12,818 6,939 16,283 6,084 9,443

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,670 13,119 6,767 16,541 5,903 9,249

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,269 13,843 6,592 17,344 5,677 9,898

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,874 13,829 6,342 17,678 5,532 9,483

1987 20 ............. 11,459 13,486 6,102 17,279 5,357 9,367

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,966 12,970 5,870 16,888 5,096 9,281

1985 19 ............. 10,366 12,563 5,523 17,055 4,843 8,980

1984 18 ............. 9,791 12,647 5,174 17,148 4,617 9,006

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,335 12,692 4,236 18,174 4,098 8,705

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,923 12,595 4,092 17,579 3,832 8,629

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,918 13,221 4,131 18,175 3,787 9,014

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,613 13,082 3,996 18,837 3,617 8,591

1979 17 ............. 7,346 13,647 3,852 19,240 3,495 9,001

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,396 14,012 3,447 19,926 2,949 9,007

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,155 14,130 3,376 19,801 2,780 9,318

1976 16 ............. 5,667 13,575 3,099 19,049 2,568 9,076

1975 15 ............. 5,324 13,674 2,945 19,354 2,380 9,145

1974 15 14........... (NA) (NA) 3,052 19,925 2,353 9,302

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) 2,867 21,083 2,154 9,018

1972 13 ............. (NA) (NA) 2,709 20,916 1,928 9,569

Note: For footnotes and meaning of symbol, see last page of this appendix.

Table C-2.

Median Income of People 15 Years Old and Over by Race, Hispanic Origin,

and Gender: 1947 to 1997 —Con.

[People 15 years old and over beginning with March 1980, and people 14 years old and over as of March of the following year

for previous years. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-6

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-3.

Total CPS Population and Per Capita Money Income by Race

and Hispanic Origin: 1967 to 1997

[Population as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1]

Year

Race

Hispanic

origin3 Total White Black

Asian

and

Pacific

Islander

Number (thous.)

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269,093 221,649 34,598 10,492 30,773

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266,792 220,070 34,218 10,071 29,703

1995 24 .................. 264,314 218,442 33,889 9,653 28,438

1994 23 .................. 262,105 216,751 33,531 6,656 27,521

1993 22 .................. 259,753 215,221 33,040 7,444 26,646

1992 21 .................. 256,830 213,198 32,535 (NA) 25,682

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251,434 210,246 31,438 (NA) 22,095

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248,886 208,754 30,895 (NA) 21,437

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246,191 206,983 30,392 (NA) 20,779

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243,685 205,333 29,904 (NA) 20,076

1987 20 .................. 241,187 203,745 29,417 (NA) 19,428

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238,789 202,453 28,930 (NA) 18,790

1985 19 .................. 236,749 201,019 28,538 (NA) 18,091

1984 18 .................. 234,066 199,117 28,151 (NA) 16,940

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231,852 197,823 27,738 (NA) 14,947

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229,587 196,036 27,263 (NA) 14,400

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227,375 194,647 26,896 (NA) 14,043

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225,242 193,075 26,455 (NA) 13,617

1979 17 .................. 223,160 191,905 26,033 (NA) 13,371

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215,935 186,640 25,041 (NA) 12,079

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214,159 185,404 24,839 (NA) 12,045

1976 16 .................. 212,566 184,334 24,474 (NA) 11,269

1975 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211,140 183,364 24,163 (NA) 11,117

1974 15 14................ 209,572 182,500 23,785 (NA) 11,202

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207,949 181,342 23,542 (NA) 10,795

1972 13 .................. 206,302 180,262 23,187 (NA) (NA)

1971 12 .................. 204,840 179,439 22,920 (NA) (NA)

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205,214 179,582 23,214 (NA) (NA)

1969 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202,189 177,400 22,488 (NA) (NA)

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200,139 175,621 22,393 (NA) (NA)

1967 11 .................. 198,120 173,996 22,029 (NA) (NA)

Year

Race

Hispanic

origin3 Total White Black

Asian

and

Pacific

Islander

Per Capita Income (dollars)

1997.................... 19,241 20,425 12,351 18,226 10,773

1996.................... 18,552 19,621 12,172 18,332 10,279

1995 24 ................. 18,143 19,277 11,566 17,448 9,794

1994 23 ................. 17,929 19,073 11,534 18,305 10,218

1993 22 ................. 17,524 18,660 10,955 17,428 9,808

1992 21 ................. 16,985 18,058 10,569 (NA) 9,828

1991.................... 17,225 18,277 10,806 (NA) 10,207

1990.................... 17,667 18,745 11,073 (NA) 10,345

1989.................... 18,193 19,281 11,322 (NA) 10,860

1988.................... 17,804 18,853 11,221 (NA) 10,794

1987 20 ................. 17,507 18,569 10,801 (NA) 10,813

1986.................... 17,090 18,088 10,554 (NA) 10,251

1985 19 ................. 16,427 17,409 10,203 (NA) 9,864

1984 18 ................. 15,954 16,898 9,696 (NA) 9,888

1983.................... 15,299 16,222 9,230 (NA) 9,324

1982.................... 15,076 15,995 8,999 (NA) 9,146

1981.................... 15,099 15,995 9,137 (NA) 9,528

1980.................... 15,186 16,056 9,369 (NA) 9,488

1979 17 ................. 15,547 16,427 9,639 (NA) 9,613

1978.................... 15,349 16,162 9,592 (NA) 9,418

1977.................... 14,691 15,491 9,076 (NA) 8,985

1976 16 ................. 14,242 15,012 8,879 (NA) 8,590

1975 15 ................. 13,760 14,485 8,488 (NA) 8,131

1974 15 14 ............... 13,746 14,464 8,405 (NA) 8,458

1973.................... 14,081 14,829 8,572 (NA) 8,345

1972 13 ................. 13,624 14,344 8,314 (NA) (NA)

1971 12 ................. 12,725 13,391 7,679 (NA) (NA)

1970.................... 12,346 13,034 7,263 (NA) (NA)

1969.................... 12,249 12,930 7,178 (NA) (NA)

1968.................... 11,627 12,278 6,727 (NA) (NA)

1967 11 ................. 10,895 11,514 6,199 (NA) (NA)

Note: For footnotes and meaning of symbol, see last page of this appendix.
C-7

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table C-4.

Black-to-White Income Ratio for People: 1967 to 1997

[People 15 years old and over beginning with March 1980, and people 14 years old and over as of

March of the following year for previous years. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars1 2]

Gender and year

Median income (dollars)

Black to

White Black White ratio

MALE

1997 ............................... 26,115 18,096 69.3

1996 ............................... 25,521 16,869 66.1

1995 24 ............................. 25,165 16,857 67.0

1994 23 ............................. 24,550 16,225 66.1

1993 22 ............................. 24,415 16,222 66.4

1992 21 ............................. 24,488 14,945 61.0

1991 ............................... 25,212 15,275 60.6

1990 ............................... 25,997 15,802 60.8

1989 ............................... 27,004 16,321 60.4

1988 ............................... 27,079 16,340 60.3

1987 20 ............................. 26,710 15,845 59.3

1986 ............................... 26,447 15,848 59.9

1985 19 ............................. 25,523 16,062 62.9

1984 18 ............................. 25,437 14,595 57.4

1983 ............................... 24,818 14,450 58.2

1982 ............................... 24,760 14,838 59.9

1981 ............................... 25,466 15,143 59.5

1980 ............................... 25,992 15,619 60.1

1979 17 ............................. 26,689 16,521 61.9

1978 ............................... 27,233 16,314 59.9

1977 ............................... 26,927 15,979 59.3

1976 16 ............................. 26,850 16,166 60.2

1975 15 ............................. 26,560 15,879 59.8

1974 15 14........................... 27,381 16,965 62.0

1973 ............................... 28,744 17,386 60.5

1972 13 ............................. 28,247 17,109 60.6

1971 12 ............................. 26,950 16,076 59.7

1970 ............................... 27,246 16,163 59.3

1969 ............................... 27,558 16,030 58.2

1968 ............................... 26,680 15,829 59.3

1967 11 ............................. 25,848 14,794 57.2

Gender and year

Median income (dollars)

Black to

White Black White ratio

FEMALE

1997 .............................. 13,792 13,048 94.6

1996 .............................. 13,258 12,042 90.8

1995 24 ............................ 12,971 11,544 89.0

1994 23 ............................ 12,595 11,419 90.7

1993 22 ............................ 12,513 10,561 84.4

1992 21 ............................ 12,541 10,167 81.1

1991 .............................. 12,634 10,389 82.2

1990 .............................. 12,669 10,227 80.7

1989 .............................. 12,700 10,193 80.3

1988 .............................. 12,350 9,971 80.7

1987 20 ............................ 12,019 9,818 81.7

1986 .............................. 11,364 9,615 84.6

1985 19 ............................ 10,974 9,363 85.3

1984 18 ............................ 10,735 9,522 88.7

1983 .............................. 10,347 8,932 86.3

1982 .............................. 10,018 8,836 88.2

1981 .............................. 9,831 8,734 88.8

1980 .............................. 9,648 8,932 92.6

1979 17 ............................ 9,528 8,671 91.0

1978 .............................. 9,789 8,814 90.0

1977 .............................. 10,161 8,774 86.4

1976 16 ............................ 9,743 9,181 94.2

1975 15 ............................ 9,767 8,873 90.8

1974 15 14 .......................... 9,639 8,702 90.3

1973 .............................. 9,599 8,664 90.3

1972 13 ............................ 9,456 8,835 93.4

1971 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,116 7,988 87.6

1970 .............................. 8,806 8,017 91.0

1969 .............................. 8,889 7,495 84.3

1968 .............................. 8,851 7,020 79.3

1967 11 ............................ 8,202 6,455 78.7

Note: For footnotes, see last page of this appendix.
C-8

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-5.

Women’s Income as a Percent of Men’s Income: 1947 to 1997

[People 15 years old and over beginning with March 1980, and people 14 years old and over as of March

of the following year for previous years]

Year Percent

1997 ...................... 54.4

1996 ...................... 53.8

1995 24.................... 53.8

1994 23.................... 52.8

1993 22.................... 52.3

1992 21.................... 52.4

1991 ...................... 51.2

1990 ...................... 49.6

1989 ...................... 48.4

1988 ...................... 47.0

1987 20.................... 46.6

1986 ...................... 44.5

1985 19.................... 44.2

Year Percent

1984 18 ................... 44.0

1983 ..................... 43.2

1982 ..................... 42.2

1981 ..................... 40.5

1980 ..................... 39.3

1979 17 ................... 36.9

1978 ..................... 37.2

1977 ..................... 38.9

1976 16 ................... 37.9

1975 15 ................... 38.2

1974 15 14 ................. 36.5

1973 ..................... 34.7

1972 13 ................... 34.9

Year Percent

1971 12 ................... 34.9

1970 ..................... 33.5

1969 ..................... 33.2

1968 ..................... 33.8

1967 11 ................... 32.4

1966 10 ................... 30.9

1965 9 .................... 30.3

1964 ..................... 31.2

1963 ..................... 30.4

1962 8 .................... 30.7

1961 7 .................... 30.5

1960 ..................... 30.9

1959 ..................... 30.6

Year Percent

1958 ..................... 31.4

1957 ..................... 32.6

1956 ..................... 31.9

1955 ..................... 33.4

1954 ..................... 36.3

1953 ..................... 36.2

1952 6 .................... 36.9

1951 ..................... 35.4

1950 ..................... 37.1

1949 5 .................... 40.9

1948 ..................... 42.1

1947 4 .................... 45.6

Note: For footnotes, see last page of this appendix.
C-9

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table C-6.

Median Wage or Salary Income of People by Gender: 1947 to 1997

[People 15 years old and over beginning with March 1980, and people 14 years old and over as of March of the following year for previous years.

Between 1974 and 1976, wage and salary income restricted to civilian workers only. Wage and salary income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars1 2]

Year

Male Female

Number

with wage

or salary

income

(thous.)

Median

wage and

salary

income

(dollars)

Number

with wage

or salary

income

(thous.)

Median

wage and

salary

income

(dollars)

1997...................... 71,330 26,939 64,802 16,849

1996...................... 71,433 26,447 64,058 16,570

1995 24 ................... 70,003 26,459 62,852 16,380

1994 23 ................... 68,536 25,884 61,355 15,925

1993 22 ................... 67,088 25,266 60,295 15,984

1992 21 ................... 66,762 25,268 59,324 15,901

1991...................... 65,912 25,850 58,752 15,616

1990...................... 66,032 26,499 58,572 15,373

1989...................... 66,115 27,579 58,289 15,434

1988...................... 65,312 28,066 57,674 15,363

1987 20 ................... 64,401 27,939 56,401 15,293

1986...................... 63,708 27,759 55,132 14,917

1985 19 ................... 63,184 26,951 53,799 14,426

1984 18 ................... 61,650 26,568 52,771 14,022

1983...................... 60,222 26,146 50,679 13,875

1982...................... 59,921 26,132 49,481 13,491

1981...................... 60,544 27,078 49,646 13,246

1980...................... 60,140 27,480 49,321 13,269

1979 17 ................... 58,793 28,222 47,742 13,274

1978...................... 58,397 28,752 46,574 12,740

1977...................... 57,449 27,851 44,462 12,159

1976 16 ................... 46,067 31,649 32,700 15,172

1975 15 ................... 44,874 31,326 31,519 14,816

1974 15 14 ................. 44,003 32,109 30,134 15,070

1973...................... 55,426 29,196 39,978 11,347

1972 13 ................... 53,668 28,713 37,818 11,734

Year

Male Female

Number

with wage

or salary

income

(thous.)

Median

wage and

salary

income

(dollars)

Number

with wage

or salary

income

(thous.)

Median

wage and

salary

income

(dollars)

1971 12 ................... 53,151 27,374 36,991 11,339

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52,209 27,623 36,758 10,885

1969 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51,627 27,920 36,279 10,640

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,237 27,145 34,936 10,507

1967 11 ................... 49,309 26,414 33,833 10,147

1966 10 ................... 48,125 25,958 31,455 9,799

1965 9

.................... 46,376 24,375 29,540 9,846

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,389 23,884 29,453 9,092

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,378 23,366 28,629 8,627

1962 8

.................... 44,391 22,901 27,442 8,279

1961 7

.................... (NA) 22,109 (NA) 8,045

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,302 21,433 25,978 7,950

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42,336 21,378 24,448 7,756

1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,759 20,180 23,966 7,529

1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,609 20,549 24,157 7,815

1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,900 20,664 23,517 7,618

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,365 19,591 22,045 7,518

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,245 18,595 20,424 7,849

1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,580 18,745 20,496 7,936

1952 6

.................... 38,629 17,839 20,040 7,791

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,200 17,485 18,673 7,719

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) 16,356 (NA) 7,370

1949 5

.................... 37,303 15,344 17,609 7,486

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,715 14,978 16,969 7,284

1947 4

.................... 37,416 15,413 17,513 7,693

Note: For footnotes and meaning of symbol, see last page of this appendix.
C-10

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-7.

Women’s Earnings as a Percent of Men’s Earnings: 1960 to 1997

[Full-time, year-round workers 15 years old and over with earnings beginning in March 1980, and 14 years old and over as of March

of the following year for previous years. Prior to 1989 earnings are for civilian workers only. Earnings in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]

Year

Male Female Women’s

earnings

as a

percent

of men’s

earnings

Number

with

earnings

(thous.)

Median

earnings

(dollars)

Number

with

earnings

(thous.)

Median

earnings

(dollars)

1997................ 54,909 33,674 37,683 24,973 74.2

1996................ 53,787 32,882 36,430 24,254 73.8

1995 24 ............. 52,667 33,170 35,482 23,693 71.4

1994 23 ............. 51,580 33,415 34,155 24,048 72.0

1993 22 ............. 49,818 33,774 33,524 24,155 71.5

1992 21 ............. 48,551 34,545 33,241 24,453 70.8

1991................ 47,888 34,670 32,436 24,220 69.9

1990................ 49,171 33,989 31,682 24,341 71.6

1989................ 49,678 35,376 31,340 24,294 68.7

1988................ 48,285 36,165 31,237 23,886 66.0

1987 20 ............. 47,013 36,658 29,912 23,893 65.2

1986................ 45,912 36,985 28,420 23,770 64.3

1985 19 ............. 44,943 36,090 27,383 23,305 64.6

1984 18 ............. 43,808 35,866 26,466 22,831 63.7

1983................ 41,528 35,260 25,166 22,423 63.6

1982................ 40,105 35,386 23,702 21,849 61.7

1981................ 41,773 36,090 23,329 21,378 59.2

1980................ 41,881 36,297 22,859 21,836 60.2

1979 17 ............. 42,437 36,902 22,082 22,017 59.7

Year

Male Female Women’s

earnings

as a

percent

of men’s

earnings

Number

with

earnings

(thous.)

Median

earnings

(dollars)

Number

with

earnings

(thous.)

Median

earnings

(dollars)

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,036 37,402 20,914 22,232 59.4

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,263 37,144 19,238 21,886 58.9

1976 16 ............. 38,184 36,356 18,073 21,884 60.2

1975 15 ............. 37,267 36,435 17,452 21,430 58.8

1974 15 14........... 37,916 36,686 16,945 21,555 58.8

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,581 38,037 17,195 21,542 56.6

1972 13 ............. 38,184 36,879 16,675 21,339 57.9

1971 12 ............. 36,819 35,001 16,002 20,828 59.5

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36,132 34,844 15,476 20,686 59.4

1969 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,008 34,442 15,374 20,274 58.9

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,068 32,628 15,013 18,975 58.2

1967 11 ............. 36,645 31,755 14,846 18,349 57.8

1966 10 ............. (NA) 31,261 (NA) 17,992 57.6

1965 9

.............. (NA) 29,979 (NA) 17,965 59.9

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) 29,542 (NA) 17,474 59.1

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) 28,823 (NA) 16,990 58.9

1962 8

.............. (NA) 28,156 (NA) 16,696 59.3

1961 7

.............. (NA) 27,631 (NA) 16,371 59.2

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) 26,757 (NA) 16,234 60.7

Note: For footnotes and meaning of symbol, see last page of this appendix.
C-11

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table C-8.

Median Income of People 25 Years Old and Over by Educational Attainment

and Gender: 1958 to 1997

[People 25 years old and over as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]

Educational attainment and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

LESS THAN 9th GRADE

1997.......................... 5,839 12,157 5,647 7,505

1996.......................... 6,139 12,453 5,775 7,443

1995 24........................ 6,277 12,346 6,020 7,473

1994 23........................ 6,507 12,264 6,183 7,435

1993 22........................ 6,734 12,101 6,423 7,198

1992 21........................ 7,000 11,868 6,921 7,249

1991.......................... 7,143 12,160 7,065 7,386

1990.......................... 7,974 12,648 7,508 7,267

1989.......................... 8,298 12,947 8,006 7,283

1988.......................... 8,342 13,461 8,206 7,062

1987 20........................ 8,420 13,764 8,460 7,143

1986.......................... 8,805 13,531 8,748 7,155

1985 19........................ 9,041 13,419 8,912 7,296

1984 18........................ 9,302 13,291 9,194 7,296

1983.......................... 9,286 13,536 9,316 7,058

1982.......................... 9,546 13,552 9,659 7,041

1981.......................... 9,838 14,242 10,011 6,888

1980.......................... 10,235 14,517 10,399 6,878

1979 17........................ 10,623 14,742 10,615 6,685

1978.......................... 10,814 15,503 10,092 6,853

1977.......................... 11,248 15,578 10,008 7,032

1976 16........................ 11,484 15,723 9,762 7,012

1975 15........................ 11,655 15,630 9,795 6,843

1974 15 14 ..................... 12,187 16,437 10,138 6,927

1973.......................... 12,635 17,879 10,048 6,859

1972 13........................ 12,904 17,688 9,931 6,568

1971 12........................ 13,267 17,089 10,026 6,249

1970.......................... 13,716 17,177 10,345 6,082

1969.......................... 14,120 17,455 10,338 5,732

1968.......................... 14,469 17,387 10,442 5,871

Educational attainment and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1967 11 ....................... 14,812 16,435 10,710 5,385

1966 10 ....................... 15,303 15,904 10,600 5,426

1965 9 ........................ 15,808 15,121 10,483 5,031

1964 ......................... 16,204 14,912 10,660 4,725

1963 ......................... 16,309 14,700 10,753 4,593

1962 8 ........................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1961 7 ........................ 17,110 14,559 (NA) (NA)

1960 ......................... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1959 ......................... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1958 ......................... 17,279 13,873 (NA) (NA)

9th TO 12th GRADE

(no diploma)

1997 ......................... 7,601 16,818 7,661 8,861

1996 ......................... 7,671 16,426 7,929 8,740

1995 24 ....................... 7,490 16,630 8,122 8,485

1994 23 ....................... 7,286 15,794 7,943 8,250

1993 22 ....................... 7,377 16,161 8,152 7,983

1992 21 ....................... 7,524 16,265 8,248 8,343

1991 ......................... 7,759 17,365 8,561 8,314

1990 ......................... 7,616 18,581 8,566 8,648

1989 ......................... 7,737 18,689 8,526 8,739

1988 ......................... 7,826 19,085 8,601 8,541

1987 20 ....................... 7,985 19,979 8,554 8,890

1986 ......................... 7,715 19,625 8,466 8,539

1985 19 ....................... 7,622 19,197 8,536 8,486

1984 18 ....................... 7,540 19,354 8,659 8,587

1983 ......................... 7,568 19,526 8,378 8,315

1982 ......................... 7,592 20,279 8,568 8,277

1981 ......................... 7,792 21,262 8,813 8,292

1980 ......................... 7,919 22,497 8,643 8,292
C-12

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Educational attainment and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1979 17........................ 7,882 23,743 8,768 8,541

1978.......................... 7,510 24,774 7,918 8,800

1977.......................... 7,715 25,454 7,733 9,343

1976 16........................ 7,839 25,766 7,603 9,249

1975 15........................ 7,842 25,203 7,418 9,447

1974 15 14 ..................... 7,883 27,582 7,218 9,676

1973.......................... 7,907 29,318 7,185 9,644

1972 13........................ 8,034 28,832 6,947 9,731

1971 12........................ 8,327 28,190 6,951 9,611

1970.......................... 8,097 28,505 6,753 9,276

1969.......................... 8,098 28,837 6,683 9,524

1968.......................... 8,156 27,966 6,491 9,268

1967 11........................ 8,338 27,223 6,464 9,020

1966 10........................ 8,303 27,276 6,124 8,723

1965 9 ........................ 8,365 25,971 5,992 8,565

1964.......................... 8,313 25,489 5,969 7,792

1963.......................... 8,539 24,837 5,779 7,625

1962 8 ........................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1961 7 ........................ 8,242 23,966 (NA) (NA)

1960.......................... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1959.......................... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1958.......................... 8,186 22,322 (NA) (NA)

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE

(includes equivalency)

1997.......................... 25,777 25,453 29,332 13,407

1996.......................... 25,510 25,383 29,212 12,993

1995 24........................ 24,909 24,607 28,785 12,686

1994 23........................ 24,704 24,245 29,110 12,335

1993 22........................ 24,682 24,194 29,171 12,317

1992 21........................ 25,143 24,761 29,596 12,470

1991.......................... 25,297 25,390 30,149 12,748

Educational attainment and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1990 ......................... 26,779 26,664 32,122 13,082

1989 ......................... 26,010 28,023 31,662 13,512

1988 ......................... 25,438 28,743 31,415 13,225

1987 20 ....................... 25,254 28,627 31,280 12,918

1986 ......................... 24,501 28,954 30,379 12,251

1985 19 ....................... 23,885 28,337 29,728 12,137

1984 18 ....................... 23,196 29,080 28,988 12,109

1983 ......................... 22,562 28,310 28,616 11,868

1982 ......................... 21,590 28,633 27,439 11,693

1981 ......................... 21,485 30,263 27,237 11,570

1980 ......................... 20,781 31,614 26,409 11,512

1979 17 ....................... 19,901 33,545 25,423 11,536

1978 ......................... 19,119 34,100 21,904 12,414

1977 ......................... 18,505 33,540 18,982 13,399

1976 16 ....................... 18,178 33,486 18,297 13,307

1975 15 ....................... 17,931 33,796 17,579 12,991

1974 15 14 ..................... 17,711 35,063 17,131 12,998

1973 ......................... 17,355 36,833 16,173 13,500

1972 13 ....................... 16,898 35,805 15,566 13,581

1971 12 ....................... 16,307 33,843 14,785 13,384

1970 ......................... 15,758 34,090 14,137 13,213

1969 ......................... 15,380 34,357 13,823 13,198

1968 ......................... 14,959 32,913 13,202 13,083

1967 11 ....................... 14,444 32,029 12,104 12,862

1966 10 ....................... 13,765 31,571 11,199 12,188

1965 9 ........................ 13,466 30,307 10,679 11,939

1964 ......................... 13,113 29,843 10,603 11,283

1963 ......................... 12,761 28,914 9,847 11,028

1962 8 ........................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1961 7 ........................ 11,651 27,418 (NA) (NA)

1960 ......................... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1959 ......................... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1958 ......................... 10,686 25,516 (NA) (NA)

Table C-8.

Median Income of People 25 Years Old and Over by Educational Attainment

and Gender: 1958 to 1997 —Con.

[People 25 years old and over as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-13

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Educational attainment and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

OR MORE

1997.......................... 21,563 47,126 19,590 29,781

1996.......................... 21,136 45,174 18,775 28,188

1995 24........................ 20,644 45,625 18,269 28,270

1994 23........................ 20,429 45,515 17,109 28,415

1993 22........................ 19,479 46,261 16,480 28,041

1992 21........................ 18,937 46,396 15,933 28,706

1991.......................... 18,490 46,904 15,359 27,842

1990.......................... 18,250 46,492 15,358 27,641

1989.......................... 18,049 48,607 14,821 28,034

1988.......................... 17,799 48,431 14,402 27,765

1987 20........................ 17,150 48,246 13,231 26,663

1986.......................... 16,540 48,771 12,641 26,455

1985 19........................ 15,970 47,652 12,098 25,708

1984 18........................ 15,570 46,803 11,812 24,517

1983.......................... 15,092 45,293 11,325 23,654

1982.......................... 14,827 44,391 10,555 22,638

1981.......................... 13,872 45,400 9,769 21,528

1980.......................... 13,124 45,209 9,182 21,473

1979 17........................ 12,768 46,510 9,068 21,490

Educational attainment and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1978 ......................... 11,958 47,915 7,813 22,049

1977 ......................... 11,342 47,058 6,664 23,097

1976 16 ....................... 10,868 46,807 6,443 23,075

1975 15 ....................... 10,337 47,642 5,924 23,781

1974 15 14 ..................... 9,624 49,483 5,411 23,852

1973 ......................... 9,087 50,000 4,908 23,946

1972 13 ....................... 8,414 51,060 4,517 24,932

1971 12 ....................... 8,009 48,880 4,145 24,652

1970 ......................... 7,590 49,281 3,855 23,997

1969 ......................... 7,263 49,922 3,593 23,696

1968 ......................... 6,873 47,924 3,449 22,585

1967 11 ....................... 6,663 46,669 3,270 22,872

1966 10 ....................... 6,312 44,867 2,991 21,740

1965 9 ........................ 6,069 42,462 2,913 21,888

1964 ......................... 5,805 41,935 2,841 20,755

1963 ......................... 5,577 38,496 2,721 19,443

1962 8 ........................ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1961 7 ........................ 5,363 38,011 (NA) (NA)

1960 ......................... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1959 ......................... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1958 ......................... 4,678 35,095 (NA) (NA)

Note: Before 1991, ‘‘high school, 4 years’’ included those with less than 1 year of college; beginning in 1991, people with less than 1 year of college are included in the ‘‘Some

college, no degree’’ category. The category ‘‘College 1 to 3 years’’ used before 1991 is a combination of the new categories ‘‘Some college, no degree’’ and ‘‘Associate

degree.’’

For footnotes and meaning of symbol, see last page of this appendix.

Table C-8.

Median Income of People 25 Years Old and Over by Educational Attainment

and Gender: 1958 to 1997 —Con.

[People 25 years old and over as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-14

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-9.

Median Income of People by Age and Gender: 1947 to 1997

[People 25 years old and over as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]

Age and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

25 TO 34 YEARS OLD

1997...................... 18,936 25,996 18,081 17,647

1996...................... 19,354 25,757 18,481 16,760

1995 24 ................... 19,617 24,864 18,856 16,384

1994 23 ................... 19,976 24,482 19,174 16,119

1993 22 ................... 20,178 24,355 19,572 15,537

1992 21 ................... 20,578 24,592 19,603 15,594

1991...................... 20,523 25,448 19,822 15,277

1990...................... 20,856 26,271 20,035 15,459

1989...................... 20,998 27,656 20,209 15,831

1988...................... 20,912 28,195 20,228 15,690

1987 20 ................... 20,783 28,154 20,188 15,512

1986...................... 20,600 28,061 19,795 15,098

1985 19 ................... 20,464 27,837 19,300 14,736

1984 18 ................... 19,775 27,949 19,017 14,508

1983...................... 19,299 27,080 18,423 13,702

1982...................... 18,833 27,560 17,973 13,384

1981...................... 18,723 28,666 17,827 13,535

1980...................... 18,284 30,384 17,362 13,599

1979 17 ................... 17,789 31,822 16,854 13,773

1978...................... 16,508 31,886 14,282 13,884

1977...................... 16,069 31,391 12,667 14,988

1976 16 ................... 15,678 31,660 11,943 14,515

1975 15 ................... 15,103 31,520 11,212 14,428

1974 15 14 ................. 14,641 32,419 10,674 13,959

1973...................... 14,075 34,303 9,879 14,085

1972 13 ................... 13,462 33,322 9,043 13,755

1971 12 ................... 12,878 31,884 8,285 13,201

1970...................... 12,245 32,084 7,931 12,533

1969...................... 11,943 32,483 7,462 12,221

1968...................... 11,498 31,210 7,272 12,265

1967 11 ................... 11,088 30,062 6,762 11,567

1966 10 ................... 10,610 29,670 6,156 10,715

Age and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1965 9

.................... 10,428 28,191 5,770 10,592

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,346 27,304 5,832 9,697

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,450 26,364 5,636 8,946

1962 8

.................... 10,414 25,514 5,602 8,681

1961 7

.................... 10,458 24,915 5,658 9,190

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,715 24,444 5,557 8,748

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,790 24,111 5,254 8,772

1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,898 22,792 5,221 8,541

1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,973 23,007 5,395 9,035

1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,025 22,833 5,545 8,535

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,215 21,433 5,263 8,830

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,151 20,139 5,061 8,701

1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,121 20,527 5,304 9,093

1952 6

.................... 11,268 19,466 5,231 8,794

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,032 18,647 5,075 9,205

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,851 18,139 5,083 8,301

1949 5

.................... 11,154 17,066 4,863 8,192

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,774 16,687 4,644 8,264

1947 4

.................... 10,794 16,242 4,266 8,058

35 TO 44 YEARS OLD

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,456 32,851 20,809 18,706

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,181 32,905 20,637 18,870

1995 24 ................... 20,773 33,090 20,458 18,322

1994 23 ................... 20,386 33,256 20,131 17,533

1993 22 ................... 19,948 33,702 19,667 17,598

1992 21 ................... 19,657 33,737 19,355 17,637

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,162 34,529 18,872 17,824

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,755 36,561 18,546 17,811

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,073 38,102 17,692 17,869

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,400 38,728 17,044 17,021

1987 20 ................... 16,803 38,206 16,465 16,947

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,289 38,327 15,919 16,202
C-15

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Age and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1985 19 ................... 15,694 37,825 15,271 15,327

1984 18 ................... 15,075 37,948 14,636 14,769

1983...................... 14,458 36,161 13,990 14,277

1982...................... 13,852 36,346 13,291 13,181

1981...................... 13,251 37,617 12,650 13,121

1980...................... 12,659 39,076 11,976 12,608

1979 17 ................... 12,325 39,787 11,651 12,768

1978...................... 11,852 39,405 10,243 13,801

1977...................... 11,492 39,627 8,981 14,064

1976 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,117 38,709 8,568 13,937

1975 15 ................... 11,026 38,072 8,188 13,437

1974 15 14 ................. 10,913 38,968 7,878 13,765

1973...................... 10,926 40,907 7,645 13,976

1972 13 ................... 10,854 39,890 7,425 13,961

1971 12 ................... 10,909 37,116 7,302 13,525

1970...................... 10,913 36,783 7,293 13,407

1969...................... 11,039 36,846 7,359 13,186

1968...................... 11,095 35,250 7,229 12,959

1967 11 ................... 11,294 33,762 7,247 12,539

1966 10 ................... 11,381 33,308 6,884 11,810

1965 9 .................... 11,490 31,509 6,797 11,657

1964...................... 11,557 30,957 6,966 10,759

1963...................... 11,615 30,042 6,757 10,339

1962 8 .................... 11,593 29,296 6,655 10,183

1961 7 .................... 11,452 28,278 6,530 10,484

1960...................... 11,398 27,559 6,319 10,138

1959...................... 11,443 27,021 6,082 9,386

1958...................... 11,294 25,169 5,937 9,288

1957...................... 11,128 24,970 5,885 9,388

1956...................... 11,010 24,807 5,727 9,413

1955...................... 10,946 23,468 5,462 8,725

1954...................... 10,738 22,267 5,280 8,696

1953...................... 10,699 22,016 5,342 8,861

Age and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1952 6

.................... 10,607 20,670 5,102 8,844

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,159 20,513 4,661 8,723

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,935 19,934 4,433 8,013

1949 5

.................... 9,962 18,287 4,263 7,957

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,816 18,660 4,304 8,166

1947 4

.................... 9,734 18,869 3,997 8,834

45 TO 54 YEARS OLD

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,203 37,624 16,231 20,534

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,748 37,063 15,693 19,483

1995 24 ................... 14,920 37,477 15,139 18,665

1994 23 ................... 14,714 37,832 14,666 18,466

1993 22 ................... 14,090 36,825 13,999 18,132

1992 21 ................... 13,612 36,814 13,331 18,134

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,891 37,449 12,945 17,351

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,209 38,077 12,278 17,474

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,088 40,076 12,007 17,012

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,702 40,129 11,687 16,308

1987 20 ................... 11,398 40,248 11,180 15,913

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,966 40,646 10,791 15,201

1985 19 ................... 10,768 38,551 10,612 14,348

1984 18 ................... 10,628 37,984 10,409 13,753

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,531 37,249 10,325 13,222

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,501 36,168 10,169 12,595

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,597 37,448 10,285 12,523

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,703 38,953 10,381 12,487

1979 17 ................... 10,808 39,507 10,431 12,137

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,929 39,409 9,306 13,487

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,026 38,934 8,384 14,399

1976 16 ................... 11,147 38,082 8,388 14,404

1975 15 ................... 11,192 37,718 8,191 14,468

1974 15 14................. 11,288 37,985 8,334 14,593

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,274 39,686 8,076 14,632

Table C-9.

Median Income of People by Age and Gender: 1947 to 1997 —Con.

[People 25 years old and over as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-16

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Age and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1972 13 ................... 11,157 38,936 7,869 14,702

1971 12 ................... 11,121 35,947 7,903 14,594

1970...................... 11,084 35,648 7,884 14,367

1969...................... 10,992 35,110 7,764 14,494

1968...................... 10,857 33,220 7,580 13,892

1967 11 ................... 10,752 32,622 7,247 13,623

1966 10 ................... 10,618 31,544 6,798 12,576

1965 9 .................... 10,517 29,861 6,760 12,014

1964...................... 10,439 28,933 6,706 11,478

1963...................... 10,335 28,090 6,692 11,139

1962 8 .................... 10,157 27,510 6,466 11,064

1961 7 .................... 10,057 26,278 6,250 10,341

1960...................... 10,016 25,820 6,205 10,477

1959...................... 9,850 24,644 5,840 10,326

1958...................... 9,643 23,007 5,606 9,630

1957...................... 9,499 23,649 5,338 9,567

1956...................... 9,313 23,376 5,145 9,489

1955...................... 9,151 22,823 4,864 9,514

1954...................... 8,985 20,947 4,465 8,970

1953...................... 8,866 21,120 4,146 9,386

1952 6 .................... 8,689 19,427 4,147 8,783

1951...................... 8,502 18,602 4,008 7,526

1950...................... 8,410 18,935 3,841 7,608

1949 5 .................... 8,342 17,048 3,624 7,219

1948...................... 8,185 17,324 3,376 8,025

1947 4 .................... 8,130 17,781 3,268 8,575

55 TO 64 YEARS OLD

1997...................... 10,361 31,157 10,607 14,376

1996...................... 9,966 30,203 10,220 13,622

1995 24 ................... 9,863 30,520 10,014 13,039

1994 23 ................... 9,641 29,322 10,011 11,769

1993 22 ................... 9,635 27,923 10,005 12,028

Age and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1992 21 ................... 9,561 29,303 9,925 11,592

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,845 30,002 10,205 11,669

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,974 30,459 10,354 11,543

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,818 31,617 10,315 11,860

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,955 30,726 10,397 11,365

1987 20 ................... 10,023 30,917 10,502 10,654

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,128 30,803 10,448 10,803

1985 19 ................... 10,131 30,216 10,603 10,700

1984 18 ................... 10,195 30,164 10,702 10,561

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,080 30,124 10,653 9,877

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,096 29,931 10,543 9,917

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,102 30,933 10,558 9,575

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,014 31,035 10,407 9,607

1979 17 ................... 9,910 32,595 10,235 9,513

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,658 32,395 8,758 10,636

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,689 31,092 7,875 11,512

1976 16 ................... 9,369 31,135 7,659 10,954

1975 15 ................... 9,219 30,386 7,508 11,138

1974 15 14................. 9,091 30,841 7,328 11,204

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,960 32,481 7,119 11,667

1972 13 ................... 8,836 32,180 7,014 11,600

1971 12 ................... 8,732 29,545 6,811 11,473

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,572 29,838 6,715 11,449

1969 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,452 29,652 6,501 11,369

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,341 28,596 6,225 10,967

1967 11 ................... 8,197 27,068 6,046 10,399

1966 10 ................... 8,066 26,218 5,771 10,095

1965 9

.................... 7,914 24,638 5,521 9,475

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,870 23,532 5,464 9,097

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,699 23,622 5,291 8,550

1962 8

.................... 7,594 23,488 5,027 8,167

1961 7

.................... 7,418 22,702 4,921 7,309

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,299 21,378 4,599 7,053

Table C-9.

Median Income of People by Age and Gender: 1947 to 1997 —Con.

[People 25 years old and over as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-17

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Age and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1959...................... 7,132 21,281 4,241 7,268

1958...................... 7,006 20,282 4,101 6,778

1957...................... 6,968 19,371 3,954 7,062

1956...................... 6,907 19,341 3,732 7,396

1955...................... 6,749 18,973 3,537 6,933

1954...................... 6,664 17,562 3,143 6,568

1953...................... 6,621 18,103 3,036 6,475

1952 6 .................... 6,540 16,769 3,001 6,548

1951...................... 6,473 16,107 2,686 5,490

1950...................... 6,482 15,278 2,765 5,624

1949 5 .................... 6,307 14,662 2,583 6,197

1948...................... 6,259 14,776 2,452 5,250

1947 4 .................... 6,147 15,546 2,180 6,380

65 YEARS OLD

AND OVER

1997...................... 13,308 17,768 18,093 10,062

1996...................... 13,173 17,067 18,026 9,847

1995 24 ................... 13,092 17,360 17,990 9,852

1994 23 ................... 12,829 16,516 17,847 9,693

1993 22 ................... 12,569 16,642 17,655 9,440

1992 21 ................... 12,463 16,699 17,641 9,361

1991...................... 12,717 16,918 17,539 9,650

1990...................... 12,450 17,417 17,285 9,878

1989...................... 12,260 16,965 17,060 9,908

1988...................... 12,019 16,920 16,728 9,637

1987 20 ................... 11,730 16,851 16,466 9,743

1986...................... 11,490 16,905 16,126 9,409

1985 19 ................... 11,171 16,259 15,805 9,417

1984 18 ................... 10,939 16,143 15,584 9,299

1983...................... 10,673 15,699 15,265 9,022

1982...................... 10,443 15,425 14,989 9,007

1981...................... 10,240 14,497 14,707 8,383

1980...................... 10,029 14,312 14,324 8,241

Age and year

Male Female

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Number

with

income

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

1979 17 ................... 9,861 13,953 13,977 8,157

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,501 14,186 13,208 8,037

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,145 14,034 12,322 7,865

1976 16 ................... 9,098 14,302 11,788 7,609

1975 15 ................... 8,880 14,162 11,432 7,708

1974 15 14................. 8,692 14,343 11,096 7,543

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,463 13,962 10,546 7,205

1972 13 ................... 8,267 13,541 10,101 6,865

1971 12 ................... 8,199 12,844 9,789 6,353

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,074 11,954 9,337 5,915

1969 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,958 11,520 9,067 5,691

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,895 11,290 8,791 5,581

1967 11 ................... 7,795 10,187 8,643 4,965

1966 10 ................... 7,729 9,858 8,453 4,947

1965 9

.................... 7,641 9,930 8,128 4,618

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,489 9,701 7,972 4,534

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,420 9,606 7,583 4,434

1962 8

.................... 7,400 9,346 7,491 4,502

1961 7

.................... 7,257 8,682 7,198 4,217

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,719 8,464 6,571 4,092

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,666 8,005 6,289 4,048

1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,515 7,606 5,949 3,966

1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,341 7,478 5,680 3,899

1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,209 7,705 5,508 4,002

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,083 7,374 4,890 3,861

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,859 6,970 4,531 3,815

1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,711 6,365 4,179 3,647

1952 6

.................... 5,599 6,949 4,086 3,645

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,003 5,717 3,524 3,040

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,911 6,040 3,328 3,253

1949 5

.................... 4,682 6,296 3,125 3,198

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,637 6,114 2,853 3,608

1947 4

.................... 4,270 6,340 2,605 3,654

Note: For footnotes, see last page of this appendix.

Table C-9.

Median Income of People by Age and Gender: 1947 to 1997 —Con.

[People 25 years old and over as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-18

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-10.

Median Family Income by Race and Hispanic Origin of Householder: 1947 to 1997

[Families as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]

Year

Race

Hispanic

origin 3 Total White Black

Asian

and

Pacific

Islander

Number (thous.)

1997...................... 70,884 59,515 8,408 2,381 6,961

1996...................... 70,241 58,934 8,455 2,247 6,631

1995 24 ................... 69,597 58,872 8,055 2,125 6,287

1994 23 ................... 69,313 58,444 8,093 1,589 6,202

1993 22 ................... 68,506 57,881 7,993 1,737 5,946

1992 21 ................... 68,216 57,669 7,982 1,760 5,733

1991...................... 67,173 57,224 7,716 1,624 5,177

1990...................... 66,322 56,803 7,471 1,536 4,981

1989...................... 66,090 56,590 7,470 1,531 4,840

1988...................... 65,837 56,492 7,409 1,481 4,823

1987 20 ................... 65,204 56,086 7,202 (NA) 4,576

1986...................... 64,491 55,676 7,096 (NA) 4,403

1985 19 ................... 63,558 54,991 6,921 (NA) 4,206

1984 18 ................... 62,706 54,400 6,778 (NA) 3,939

1983...................... 61,997 53,934 6,675 (NA) 3,567

1982...................... 61,393 53,407 6,530 (NA) 3,369

1981...................... 61,019 53,269 6,413 (NA) 3,305

1980...................... 60,309 52,710 6,317 (NA) 3,235

1979 17 ................... 59,550 52,243 6,184 (NA) 3,029

1978...................... 57,804 50,910 5,906 (NA) 2,741

1977...................... 57,215 50,530 5,806 (NA) 2,764

1976 16 ................... 56,710 50,083 5,804 (NA) 2,583

1975 15 ................... 56,245 49,873 5,586 (NA) 2,499

1974 15 14 ................. 55,698 49,440 5,491 (NA) 2,475

1973...................... 55,053 48,919 5,440 (NA) 2,365

1972 13 ................... 54,373 48,477 5,265 (NA) 2,312

1971 12 ................... 53,296 47,641 5,157 (NA) (NA)

1970...................... 52,227 46,535 4,928 (NA) (NA)

1969...................... 51,586 46,022 4,774 (NA) (NA)

1968...................... 50,823 45,437 4,646 (NA) (NA)

1967 11 ................... 50,111 44,814 4,589 (NA) (NA)

1966 10 ................... 49,214 44,110 (NA) (NA) (NA)

Year

Race

Hispanic

origin 3 Total White Black

Asian

and

Pacific

Islander

1965 9

.................... 48,509 43,497 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,956 43,081 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,540 42,663 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1962 8

.................... 47,059 42,437 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1961 7

.................... 46,418 41,888 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,539 41,123 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,111 40,872 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,232 40,236 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,696 39,676 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,497 39,498 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42,889 38,982 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,951 38,185 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,202 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1952 6

.................... 40,832 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,578 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,929 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1949 5

.................... 39,303 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,624 34,345 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1947 4

.................... 37,237 34,120 (NA) (NA) (NA)

Median Income (dollars)

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,568 46,754 28,602 51,850 28,142

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,271 45,783 27,131 50,232 26,780

1995 24 ................... 42,769 44,913 27,350 48,820 25,876

1994 23 ................... 42,001 44,277 26,748 49,950 26,336

1993 22 ................... 41,051 43,652 23,927 49,378 26,273

1992 21 ................... 41,839 44,238 24,141 48,339 26,946

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42,351 44,524 25,392 48,284 28,158

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,414 45,332 26,308 51,878 28,773

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,284 46,564 26,158 52,229 30,347

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,674 46,013 26,224 49,602 29,534

1987 20 ................... 43,756 45,755 26,005 (NA) 28,681

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,139 45,117 25,780 (NA) 29,281
C-19

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Year

Race

Hispanic

origin 3 Total White Black

Asian

and

Pacific

Islander

1985 19 ................... 41,371 43,484 25,039 (NA) 28,381

1984 18 ................... 40,833 42,768 23,837 (NA) 29,091

1983...................... 39,609 41,506 23,376 (NA) 27,324

1982...................... 39,341 41,305 22,829 (NA) 27,243

1981...................... 39,881 41,892 23,631 (NA) 29,216

1980...................... 40,999 42,717 24,717 (NA) 28,699

1979 17 ................... 42,483 44,331 25,103 (NA) 30,731

1978...................... 41,944 43,675 25,868 (NA) 29,879

1977...................... 40,656 42,512 24,286 (NA) 29,004

1976 16 ................... 40,417 41,981 24,972 (NA) 27,720

1975 15 ................... 39,180 40,748 25,072 (NA) 27,276

1974 15 14 ................. 39,899 41,464 24,758 (NA) 29,502

1973...................... 40,979 42,828 24,718 (NA) 29,635

1972 13 ................... 40,183 41,748 24,812 (NA) 29,580

1971 12 ................... 38,300 39,741 23,982 (NA) (NA)

1970...................... 38,345 39,779 24,401 (NA) (NA)

1969...................... 38,426 39,897 24,438 (NA) (NA)

1968...................... 36,749 38,047 22,819 (NA) (NA)

1967 11 ................... 35,076 36,407 21,555 (NA) (NA)

1966 10 ................... 34,343 35,679 (NA) (NA) (NA)

Year

Race

Hispanic

origin 3 Total White Black

Asian

and

Pacific

Islander

1965 9

.................... 32,649 34,029 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,286 32,662 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,119 31,560 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1962 8

.................... 29,144 30,519 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1961 7

.................... 28,322 29,537 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,013 29,084 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,514 28,661 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,002 27,091 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,133 27,196 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,919 27,122 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,367 25,443 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,904 23,844 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,477 24,341 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1952 6

.................... 21,679 22,927 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,035 21,886 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,332 21,104 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1949 5

.................... 19,254 20,028 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,523 20,277 (NA) (NA) (NA)

1947 4

.................... 20,102 20,938 (NA) (NA) (NA)

Note: For footnotes and meaning of symbol, see last page of this appendix.

Table C-10.

Median Family Income by Race and Hispanic Origin of Householder: 1947 to 1997 —Con.

[Families as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-20

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-11.

Median Family Income by Size of Family: 1947 to 1997

[Families as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

ALL FAMILIES

1997...................... 70,884 44,568 3.18

1996...................... 70,241 43,271 3.19

1995 24 ................... 69,597 42,769 3.20

1994 23 ................... 69,313 42,001 3.19

1993 22 ................... 68,506 41,051 3.20

1992 21 ................... 68,216 41,839 3.19

1991...................... 67,173 42,351 3.17

1990...................... 66,322 43,414 3.18

1989...................... 66,090 44,284 3.17

1988...................... 65,837 43,674 3.16

1987 20 ................... 65,204 43,756 3.17

1986...................... 64,491 43,139 3.19

1985 19 ................... 63,558 41,371 3.21

1984 18 ................... 62,706 40,833 3.23

1983...................... 61,997 39,609 3.24

1982...................... 61,393 39,341 3.26

1981...................... 61,019 39,881 3.25

1980...................... 60,309 40,999 3.27

1979 17 ................... 59,550 42,483 3.29

1978...................... 57,804 41,944 3.31

1977...................... 57,215 40,656 3.33

1976 16 ................... 56,710 40,417 3.37

1975 15 ................... 56,245 39,180 3.39

1974 15 14 ................. 55,698 39,899 3.42

1973...................... 55,053 40,979 3.44

1972 13 ................... 54,373 40,183 3.48

1971 12 ................... 53,296 38,300 3.53

1970...................... 52,227 38,345 3.57

1969...................... 51,586 38,426 3.58

1968...................... 50,823 36,749 3.60

1967 11 ................... 50,111 35,076 3.63

1966 10 ................... 49,214 34,343 3.67

1965 9 .................... 48,509 32,649 3.69

1964...................... 47,956 31,286 3.70

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,540 30,119 3.70

1962 8

.................... 47,059 29,144 3.68

1961 7

.................... 46,418 28,322 3.67

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,539 28,013 3.70

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,111 27,514 3.67

1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,232 26,002 3.65

1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,696 26,133 3.64

1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,497 25,919 3.60

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42,889 24,367 3.58

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,951 22,904 3.59

1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,202 23,477 3.59

1952 6

.................... 40,832 21,679 3.53

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,578 21,035 3.54

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,929 20,332 3.54

1949 5

.................... 39,303 19,254 3.54

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,624 19,523 3.58

1947 4

.................... 37,237 20,102 3.64

FAMILIES WITH

TWO PEOPLE

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,287 37,562 (X)

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,780 36,900 (X)

1995 24 ................... 29,765 36,384 (X)

1994 23 ................... 29,181 35,331 (X)

1993 22 ................... 28,450 34,768 (X)

1992 21 ................... 28,462 35,412 (X)

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,202 35,559 (X)

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,615 37,366 (X)

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,606 37,321 (X)

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,377 36,733 (X)

1987 20 ................... 26,914 36,442 (X)

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,323 35,973 (X)

1985 19 ................... 25,472 34,505 (X)

1984 18 ................... 25,349 34,093 (X)

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,831 33,247 (X)
C-21

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,392 33,268 (X)

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,426 33,030 (X)

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,768 33,522 (X)

1979 17 ................... 23,461 34,236 (X)

1978...................... 22,485 33,681 (X)

1977...................... 22,033 32,735 (X)

1976 16 ................... 21,530 32,670 (X)

1975 15 ................... 21,280 31,529 (X)

1974 15 14 ................. 20,837 32,180 (X)

1973...................... 20,592 32,379 (X)

1972 13 ................... 19,931 31,605 (X)

1971 12 ................... 18,862 30,026 (X)

1970...................... 18,282 30,258 (X)

1969...................... 17,654 30,511 (X)

1968...................... 17,392 28,988 (X)

1967 11 ................... 16,889 27,528 (X)

1966 10 ................... 16,354 26,455 (X)

1965 9 .................... 16,230 24,802 (X)

1964...................... 15,713 24,327 (X)

1963...................... 15,287 23,463 (X)

1962 8 .................... 15,031 22,813 (X)

1961 7 .................... 15,159 22,253 (X)

1960...................... 14,860 21,967 (X)

1959...................... 14,511 21,744 (X)

1958...................... 14,247 20,875 (X)

1957...................... 14,284 21,249 (X)

1956...................... 14,239 21,315 (X)

1955...................... 13,921 19,861 (X)

1954...................... (NA) (NA) (X)

1953...................... (NA) (NA) (X)

1952 6 .................... 13,760 17,928 (X)

1951...................... 13,712 17,502 (X)

1950...................... 13,084 17,153 (X)

1949 5 .................... 12,854 15,920 (X)

1948...................... 12,010 16,289 (X)

1947 4 .................... 11,679 16,289 (X)

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

FAMILIES WITH

THREE PEOPLE

1997...................... 16,231 46,783 (X)

1996...................... 16,239 45,120 (X)

1995 24 ................... 15,771 44,318 (X)

1994 23 ................... 15,904 43,970 (X)

1993 22 ................... 15,986 43,015 (X)

1992 21 ................... 16,114 43,722 (X)

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,594 44,689 (X)

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,298 44,999 (X)

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,353 46,549 (X)

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,444 45,605 (X)

1987 20 ................... 15,440 45,603 (X)

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,395 44,997 (X)

1985 19 ................... 15,400 43,653 (X)

1984 18 ................... 14,804 42,915 (X)

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,427 41,227 (X)

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,189 40,605 (X)

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,079 41,685 (X)

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,039 42,175 (X)

1979 17 ................... 13,603 43,552 (X)

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,975 42,974 (X)

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,629 41,557 (X)

1976 16 ................... 12,472 40,760 (X)

1975 15 ................... 12,252 40,054 (X)

1974 15 14................. 12,103 40,295 (X)

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,673 41,179 (X)

1972 13 ................... 11,574 40,559 (X)

1971 12 ................... 11,305 38,498 (X)

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,724 38,850 (X)

1969 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,688 39,094 (X)

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,514 37,945 (X)

1967 11 ................... 10,289 36,800 (X)

1966 10 ................... 10,098 35,292 (X)

1965 9

.................... 9,774 33,635 (X)

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,045 32,248 (X)

Table C-11.

Median Family Income by Size of Family: 1947 to 1997 —Con.

[Families as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-22

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,808 31,160 (X)

1962 8

.................... 9,777 30,451 (X)

1961 7

.................... 9,839 29,527 (X)

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,505 28,875 (X)

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,755 28,133 (X)

1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,584 26,927 (X)

1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,536 27,069 (X)

1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,527 26,634 (X)

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,770 25,476 (X)

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (X)

1953...................... (NA) (NA) (X)

1952 6 .................... 9,932 23,022 (X)

1951...................... 9,974 21,767 (X)

1950...................... 9,984 21,024 (X)

1949 5 .................... 9,895 19,725 (X)

1948...................... 10,047 19,909 (X)

1947 4 .................... 9,556 20,195 (X)

FAMILIES WITH

FOUR PEOPLE

1997...................... 14,633 53,350 (X)

1996...................... 14,602 52,700 (X)

1995 24 ................... 14,424 52,328 (X)

1994 23 ................... 14,625 50,914 (X)

1993 22 ................... 14,479 50,162 (X)

1992 21 ................... 14,370 50,622 (X)

1991...................... 14,164 50,738 (X)

1990...................... 14,098 50,902 (X)

1989...................... 14,026 52,762 (X)

1988...................... 14,068 52,981 (X)

1987 20 ................... 13,770 52,397 (X)

1986...................... 13,620 50,839 (X)

1985 19 ................... 13,355 48,891 (X)

1984 18 ................... 13,259 48,037 (X)

1983...................... 13,228 47,028 (X)

1982...................... 13,039 46,369 (X)

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

1981...................... 12,594 46,803 (X)

1980...................... 12,436 47,452 (X)

1979 17 ................... 12,372 48,827 (X)

1978...................... 12,037 48,573 (X)

1977...................... 11,774 47,548 (X)

1976 16 ................... 11,483 46,785 (X)

1975 15 ................... 11,276 45,260 (X)

1974 15 14 ................. 11,003 46,291 (X)

1973...................... 10,789 46,620 (X)

1972 13 ................... 10,599 46,299 (X)

1971 12 ................... 10,524 43,294 (X)

1970...................... 9,899 43,397 (X)

1969...................... 9,893 43,274 (X)

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,642 41,866 (X)

1967 11 ................... 9,467 39,767 (X)

1966 10 ................... 9,400 38,032 (X)

1965 9

.................... 9,341 36,605 (X)

1964 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,137 35,662 (X)

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,435 34,404 (X)

1962 8

.................... 9,368 33,059 (X)

1961 7

.................... 9,200 31,789 (X)

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,288 31,377 (X)

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,166 30,830 (X)

1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,062 29,059 (X)

1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,849 28,879 (X)

1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,997 28,841 (X)

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,955 27,131 (X)

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (X)

1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (X)

1952 6

.................... 8,328 24,370 (X)

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,128 23,377 (X)

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,228 22,513 (X)

1949 5

.................... 7,756 20,933 (X)

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,956 21,245 (X)

1947 4

.................... 7,393 21,833 (X)

Table C-11.

Median Family Income by Size of Family: 1947 to 1997 —Con.

[Families as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-23

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

FAMILIES WITH

FIVE PEOPLE

1997...................... 6,555 51,101 (X)

1996...................... 6,326 49,161 (X)

1995 24 ................... 6,234 48,781 (X)

1994 23 ................... 6,284 48,374 (X)

1993 22 ................... 6,342 47,277 (X)

1992 21 ................... 6,091 48,346 (X)

1991...................... 6,030 48,175 (X)

1990...................... 5,965 48,447 (X)

1989...................... 5,938 50,580 (X)

1988...................... 6,056 48,832 (X)

1987 20 ................... 5,845 50,429 (X)

1986...................... 5,900 49,906 (X)

1985 19 ................... 6,106 47,425 (X)

1984 18 ................... 5,894 47,543 (X)

1983...................... 5,916 45,004 (X)

1982...................... 5,970 45,571 (X)

1981...................... 5,971 46,775 (X)

1980...................... 6,020 48,448 (X)

1979 17 ................... 5,930 50,573 (X)

1978...................... 6,089 49,619 (X)

1977...................... 6,269 48,546 (X)

1976 16 ................... 6,209 47,977 (X)

1975 15 ................... 6,171 47,025 (X)

1974 15 14 ................. 6,320 48,094 (X)

1973...................... 6,386 48,456 (X)

1972 13 ................... 6,356 47,232 (X)

1971 12 ................... 6,362 44,556 (X)

1970...................... 6,528 44,695 (X)

1969...................... 6,426 44,170 (X)

1968...................... 6,245 42,130 (X)

1967 11 ................... 6,235 40,408 (X)

1966 10 ................... 6,189 39,063 (X)

1965 9 .................... 6,165 36,577 (X)

1964...................... 6,224 35,386 (X)

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,269 34,129 (X)

1962 8

.................... 6,143 32,819 (X)

1961 7

.................... 5,912 32,347 (X)

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,922 32,140 (X)

1959 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,956 30,952 (X)

1958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,702 28,916 (X)

1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,498 28,885 (X)

1956 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,387 29,177 (X)

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,251 26,733 (X)

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (X)

1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (X)

1952 6

.................... 4,670 23,819 (X)

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,402 23,627 (X)

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,434 22,586 (X)

1949 5

.................... 4,368 21,032 (X)

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,221 21,606 (X)

1947 4

.................... 4,157 23,445 (X)

FAMILIES WITH

SIX PEOPLE

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,047 45,473 (X)

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,108 42,733 (X)

1995 24 ................... 2,182 45,220 (X)

1994 23 ................... 2,106 46,132 (X)

1993 22 ................... 2,048 45,713 (X)

1992 21 ................... 2,072 43,130 (X)

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,986 43,321 (X)

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,060 47,130 (X)

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,997 46,339 (X)

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,901 49,258 (X)

1987 20 ................... 2,037 47,564 (X)

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,078 47,362 (X)

1985 19 ................... 2,044 45,971 (X)

1984 18 ................... 2,175 43,378 (X)

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,276 43,617 (X)

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,329 45,350 (X)

Table C-11.

Median Family Income by Size of Family: 1947 to 1997 —Con.

[Families as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-24

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

1981...................... 2,409 47,607 (X)

1980...................... 2,471 47,577 (X)

1979 17 ................... 2,461 49,263 (X)

1978...................... 2,524 49,436 (X)

1977...................... 2,649 48,902 (X)

1976 16 ................... 2,800 47,988 (X)

1975 15 ................... 2,969 46,077 (X)

1974 15 14 ................. 2,992 47,284 (X)

1973...................... 3,021 48,589 (X)

1972 13 ................... 3,190 46,440 (X)

1971 12 ................... 3,325 44,340 (X)

1970...................... 3,381 44,742 (X)

1969...................... 3,467 43,905 (X)

1968...................... 3,510 41,368 (X)

1967 11 ................... 3,549 39,683 (X)

1966 10 ................... 3,438 38,160 (X)

1965 9 .................... 3,412 36,816 (X)

1964...................... 3,284 34,791 (X)

1963...................... 3,324 32,992 (X)

1962 8 .................... 3,416 31,987 (X)

1961 7 .................... 3,298 30,969 (X)

1960...................... 3,005 30,575 (X)

1959...................... 2,917 29,449 (X)

1958...................... 2,894 27,668 (X)

1957...................... 2,899 28,227 (X)

1956...................... 2,778 28,077 (X)

1955...................... 2,520 25,338 (X)

1954...................... (NA) (NA) (X)

1953...................... (NA) (NA) (X)

1952 6 .................... 2,336 22,710 (X)

1951...................... 2,142 21,903 (X)

1950...................... 2,136 21,704 (X)

1949 5 .................... 2,202 21,063 (X)

1948...................... 2,190 21,729 (X)

1947 4 .................... 2,162 22,676 (X)

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

FAMILIES WITH SEVEN

OR MORE PEOPLE

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,130 42,001 (X)

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,186 41,265 (X)

1995 24 ................... 1,221 40,542 (X)

1994 23 ................... 1,213 37,425 (X)

1993 22 ................... 1,201 36,829 (X)

1992 21 ................... 1,106 39,326 (X)

1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200 39,108 (X)

1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,285 43,426 (X)

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,170 41,755 (X)

1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 990 42,358 (X)

1987 20 ................... 1,198 43,896 (X)

1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,176 40,599 (X)

1985 19 ................... 1,181 40,980 (X)

1984 18 ................... 1,225 39,861 (X)

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,319 37,348 (X)

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,475 39,569 (X)

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,539 43,328 (X)

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,575 45,482 (X)

1979 17 ................... 1,723 48,621 (X)

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,694 47,869 (X)

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,861 43,670 (X)

1976 16 ................... 2,216 44,640 (X)

1975 15 ................... 2,296 41,493 (X)

1974 15 14................. 2,443 45,150 (X)

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,593 45,283 (X)

1972 13 ................... 2,723 42,753 (X)

1971 12 ................... 2,919 40,475 (X)

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,133 41,268 (X)

1969 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,109 41,469 (X)

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,206 39,550 (X)

1967 11 ................... 3,405 36,716 (X)

1966 10 ................... 3,443 34,580 (X)

1965 9

.................... 3,357 32,471 (X)

Table C-11.

Median Family Income by Size of Family: 1947 to 1997 —Con.

[Families as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-25

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

1964...................... 3,432 30,909 (X)

1963...................... 3,313 30,654 (X)

1962 8 .................... 3,263 27,461 (X)

1961 7 .................... 2,933 26,806 (X)

1960...................... 2,855 25,685 (X)

1959...................... 2,757 26,081 (X)

1958...................... 2,713 23,170 (X)

1957...................... 2,648 24,601 (X)

1956...................... 2,517 24,091 (X)

Year and size of family Number

(thous.)

Median

income

(dollars)

Average

family size

1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,426 22,393 (X)

1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (X)

1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (X)

1952 6

.................... 1,994 19,477 (X)

1951 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,084 20,082 (X)

1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,956 19,652 (X)

1949 5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,119 19,557 (X)

1948 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,113 19,481 (X)

1947 4

.................... 2,332 21,674 (X)

Note: For footnotes and meaning of symbols, see last page of this appendix.

Table C-11.

Median Family Income by Size of Family: 1947 to 1997 —Con.

[Families as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1 2]
C-26

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-12.

Median Family Income by Type of Family and Wife’s Labor Force Status:

1947 to 1997

[Families as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars1 2]

Year

All families

Married-couple families

Male householder,

no wife present

Female householder,

Total no husband present

Wife in paid

labor force

Wife not in

paid labor force

Number (thous.)

1997 ............................... 70,884 54,321 33,535 20,786 3,911 12,652

1996 ............................... 70,241 53,604 33,242 20,362 3,847 12,790

1995 24 ............................. 69,597 53,570 32,677 20,893 3,513 12,514

1994 23 ............................. 69,313 53,865 32,902 20,962 3,228 12,220

1993 22 ............................. 68,506 53,181 32,194 20,988 2,914 12,411

1992 21 ............................. 68,216 53,090 31,389 21,701 3,065 12,061

1991 ............................... 67,173 52,457 30,923 21,534 3,025 11,692

1990 ............................... 66,322 52,147 30,298 21,849 2,907 11,268

1989 ............................... 66,090 52,317 30,188 22,129 2,884 10,890

1988 ............................... 65,837 52,100 29,713 22,387 2,847 10,890

1987 20 ............................. 65,204 51,675 29,010 22,664 2,834 10,696

1986 ............................... 64,491 51,537 28,498 23,038 2,510 10,445

1985 19 ............................. 63,558 50,933 27,489 23,445 2,414 10,211

1984 18 ............................. 62,706 50,350 26,938 23,412 2,228 10,129

1983 ............................... 61,997 50,090 26,177 23,913 2,030 9,878

1982 ............................... 61,393 49,908 25,480 24,428 2,016 9,469

1981 ............................... 61,019 49,630 25,002 24,628 1,986 9,403

1980 ............................... 60,309 49,294 24,752 24,542 1,933 9,082

1979 17 ............................. 59,550 49,112 24,187 24,925 1,733 8,705

1978 ............................... 57,804 47,692 23,005 24,686 1,655 8,458

1977 ............................... 57,215 47,385 21,936 25,449 1,594 8,236

1976 16 ............................. 56,710 47,497 21,554 25,944 1,500 7,713

1975 15 ............................. 56,245 47,318 20,833 26,486 1,444 7,482

1974 15 14 ........................... 55,698 47,069 20,404 26,665 1,399 7,230

1973 ............................... 55,053 46,812 19,464 27,348 1,438 6,804

1972 13 ............................. 54,373 46,314 18,888 27,426 1,453 6,607

1971 12 ............................. 53,296 45,752 18,274 27,478 1,353 6,191

1970 ............................... 52,227 44,739 17,568 27,172 1,258 5,950

1969 ............................... 51,586 44,436 17,464 26,972 1,221 5,580

1968 ............................... 50,823 43,841 16,638 27,203 1,229 5,439

1967 11 ............................. 50,111 43,292 15,845 27,447 1,210 5,333

1966 10 ............................. 49,214 42,553 15,005 27,548 1,197 5,172

1965 9 .............................. 48,509 42,108 14,183 27,925 1,179 4,992

1964 ............................... 47,956 41,647 13,647 28,000 1,182 5,006
C-27

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table C-12.

Median Family Income by Type of Family and Wife’s Labor Force Status:

1947 to 1997—Con.

[Families as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars1 2]

Year

All families

Married-couple families

Male householder,

no wife present

Female householder,

Total no husband present

Wife in paid

labor force

Wife not in

paid labor force

1963 ............................... 47,540 41,311 13,398 27,913 1,243 4,882

1962 8 .............................. 47,059 40,923 13,028 27,895 1,334 4,741

1961 7 .............................. 46,418 40,405 12,366 28,039 1,293 4,643

1960 ............................... 45,539 39,624 12,007 27,617 1,202 4,609

1959 ............................... 45,111 39,335 11,265 28,070 1,233 4,494

1958 ............................... 44,232 38,585 11,014 27,571 1,285 4,332

1957 ............................... 43,696 38,112 10,696 27,416 1,292 4,310

1956 ............................... 43,497 37,849 10,266 27,583 1,230 4,366

1955 ............................... 42,889 37,200 9,786 27,414 1,404 4,239

1954 ............................... 41,951 36,395 9,005 27,390 1,314 4,225

1953 ............................... 41,202 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)

1952 6 .............................. 40,832 35,782 9,154 26,628 1,396 3,842

1951 ............................... 40,578 35,196 8,044 27,152 1,216 4,030

1950 ............................... 39,929 34,556 (NA) (NA) 1,226 4,040

1949 5 .............................. 39,303 34,291 (NA) (NA) 1,265 3,637

1948 ............................... 38,624 33,538 (NA) (NA) 1,287 3,713

1947 4 .............................. 37,237 32,288 (NA) (NA) 1,234 3,757

Median Income (dollars)

1997 ............................... 44,568 51,591 60,669 36,027 32,960 21,023

1996 ............................... 43,271 50,848 59,721 34,522 32,325 20,368

1995 24 ............................. 42,769 49,563 58,790 34,096 31,972 20,738

1994 23 ............................. 42,001 48,690 57,733 33,763 30,054 19,750

1993 22 ............................. 41,051 47,767 56,874 33,564 29,398 19,374

1992 21 ............................. 41,839 47,921 56,941 34,518 31,546 19,476

1991 ............................... 42,351 48,309 56,763 35,441 33,409 19,670

1990 ............................... 43,414 48,991 57,442 37,166 35,669 20,793

1989 ............................... 44,284 49,894 58,590 37,209 36,044 21,282

1988 ............................... 43,674 49,370 57,944 36,930 36,397 20,820

1987 20 ............................. 43,756 49,279 57,575 37,638 35,615 20,745

1986 ............................... 43,139 48,040 56,154 37,786 36,555 19,985

1985 19 ............................. 41,371 46,390 54,342 36,629 33,744 20,376

1984 18 ............................. 40,833 45,743 53,554 36,428 36,031 19,777

1983 ............................... 39,609 43,970 51,739 35,275 35,202 18,997

1982 ............................... 39,341 43,683 50,940 35,758 33,812 19,280
C-28

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-12.

Median Family Income by Type of Family and Wife’s Labor Force Status:

1947 to 1997—Con.

[Families as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars1 2]

Year

All families

Married-couple families

Male householder,

no wife present

Female householder,

Total no husband present

Wife in paid

labor force

Wife not in

paid labor force

1981 ............................... 39,881 44,650 52,099 36,206 35,429 19,524

1980 ............................... 40,999 45,129 52,419 36,999 34,165 20,297

1979 17 ............................. 42,483 46,478 53,921 38,403 36,455 21,429

1978 ............................... 41,944 45,986 52,570 38,415 37,964 20,299

1977 ............................... 40,656 44,737 51,472 38,253 36,869 19,720

1976 16 ............................. 40,417 43,781 50,612 37,642 34,748 19,484

1975 15 ............................. 39,180 42,458 49,227 36,418 37,112 19,546

1974 15 14 ........................... 39,899 43,057 50,163 37,824 36,052 20,064

1973 ............................... 40,979 44,301 51,812 38,826 36,527 19,712

1972 13 ............................. 40,183 43,028 50,236 38,159 37,251 19,311

1971 12 ............................. 38,300 40,926 47,863 36,286 32,480 19,044

1970 ............................... 38,345 40,867 47,707 36,157 35,022 19,792

1969 ............................... 38,426 40,740 47,372 36,170 33,974 19,643

1968 ............................... 36,749 38,929 45,493 34,974 31,168 19,060

1967 11 ............................. 35,076 37,322 44,020 33,652 30,128 18,986

1966 10 ............................. 34,343 35,739 42,159 32,501 29,328 18,284

1965 9 .............................. 32,649 34,095 40,346 30,936 28,852 16,576

1964 ............................... 31,286 33,014 38,911 30,185 27,585 16,469

1963 ............................... 30,119 31,777 37,542 29,107 27,521 15,476

1962 8 .............................. 29,144 30,647 36,509 28,205 27,946 15,321

1961 7 .............................. 28,322 29,813 35,498 27,616 25,033 14,781

1960 ............................... 28,013 29,274 34,393 27,514 24,225 14,794

1959 ............................... 27,514 28,758 34,055 27,006 23,430 14,039

1958 ............................... 26,002 27,167 31,763 25,470 21,775 14,011

1957 ............................... 26,133 27,138 32,316 25,433 24,107 14,540

1956 ............................... 25,919 26,965 32,301 25,187 22,595 14,933

1955 ............................... 24,367 25,366 31,008 23,860 23,110 13,629

1954 ............................... 22,904 23,817 29,330 22,267 22,063 12,609

1953 ............................... 23,477 24,191 29,914 22,785 22,763 13,587

1952 6 .............................. 21,679 22,632 27,307 21,244 20,146 12,455

1951 ............................... 21,035 21,761 26,264 20,610 19,578 12,590

1950 ............................... 20,332 21,110 24,522 20,308 19,082 11,774

1949 5 .............................. 19,254 19,799 23,901 18,950 17,481 13,032

1948 ............................... 19,523 20,044 (NA) (NA) 20,185 12,644

1947 4 .............................. 20,102 20,620 (NA) (NA) 19,472 14,405

Note: For footnotes and meaning of symbol, see last page of this appendix.
C-29

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table C-13.

Median Family Income by Presence of Children Under 18 Years Old: 1974 to 1997

[Families as of March of the following year. ‘‘Related’’ children beginning in 1987, ‘‘Own’’ children for earlier years.

Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1

]

Year

Total No children under 18 years old One or more children under 18 years old

Number

(thous.)

Median income

(dollars)

Number

(thous.)

Median income

(dollars)

Number

(thous.)

Median income

(dollars)

1997 ............................... 70,884 44,568 33,457 45,624 37,427 43,545

1996 ............................... 70,241 43,271 33,037 45,048 37,204 41,925

1995 24 ............................. 69,597 42,769 32,878 43,442 36,719 42,143

1994 23 ............................. 69,313 42,001 32,531 42,944 36,782 41,073

1993 22 ............................. 68,506 41,051 32,050 42,040 36,456 40,208

1992 21 ............................. 68,216 41,839 32,365 43,114 35,851 40,649

1991 ............................... 67,173 42,351 32,312 43,534 34,861 41,233

1990 ............................... 66,322 43,414 31,819 44,870 34,503 42,035

1989 ............................... 66,090 44,284 31,811 45,344 34,279 43,307

1988 ............................... 65,837 43,674 31,582 44,658 34,255 42,933

1987 20 ............................. 65,204 43,756 31,209 43,969 33,996 43,571

1986 ............................... 64,491 43,139 32,593 43,351 31,898 42,912

1985 19 ............................. 63,558 41,371 31,888 41,415 31,670 41,326

1984 18 ............................. 62,706 40,833 31,594 41,067 31,112 40,632

1983 ............................... 61,997 39,609 30,951 40,030 31,046 39,197

1982 ............................... 61,393 39,341 30,575 39,143 30,818 39,539

1981 ............................... 61,019 39,881 30,007 39,277 31,012 40,481

1980 ............................... 60,309 40,999 29,082 40,170 31,227 41,666

1979 17 ............................. 59,550 42,483 28,528 40,800 31,022 43,810

1978 ............................... 57,804 41,944 27,433 40,318 30,371 43,252

1977 ............................... 57,215 40,656 26,846 38,906 30,369 42,121

1976 16 ............................. 56,710 40,417 26,565 38,212 30,145 41,960

1975 15 ............................. 56,245 39,180 26,067 37,163 30,177 40,670

1974 15 14 ........................... 55,698 39,899 25,638 37,323 30,060 41,764

Note: For footnotes, see last page of this appendix.
C-30

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-14.

Gini Ratios for Families: 1947 to 1997

[Families as of March of the following year]

Year Gini

ratio

1997 ...................... 0.429

1996 ...................... 0.425

1995 24.................... 0.421

1994 23.................... 0.426

1993 22.................... 0.429

1992 21.................... 0.404

1991 ...................... 0.397

1990 ...................... 0.396

1989 ...................... 0.401

1988 ...................... 0.395

1987 20.................... 0.393

1986 ...................... 0.392

1985 19.................... 0.389

Year Gini

ratio

1984 ..................... 0.383

1983 18 ................... 0.382

1982 ..................... 0.380

1981 ..................... 0.369

1980 ..................... 0.365

1979 17 ................... 0.365

1978 ..................... 0.363

1977 ..................... 0.363

1976 16 ................... 0.358

1975 15 ................... 0.357

1974 15 14 ................. 0.355

1973 ..................... 0.356

1972 13 ................... 0.359

Year Gini

ratio

1971 12 ................... 0.355

1970 ..................... 0.353

1969 ..................... 0.349

1968 ..................... 0.348

1967 11 ................... 0.358

1966 10 ................... 0.349

1965 9 .................... 0.356

1964 ..................... 0.361

1963 ..................... 0.362

1962 8 .................... 0.362

1961 7 .................... 0.374

1960 ..................... 0.364

1959 ..................... 0.361

Year Gini

ratio

1958 ..................... 0.354

1957 ..................... 0.351

1956 ..................... 0.358

1955 ..................... 0.363

1954 ..................... 0.371

1953 ..................... 0.359

1952 6 .................... 0.368

1951 ..................... 0.363

1950 ..................... 0.379

1949 5 .................... 0.378

1948 ..................... 0.371

1947 4 .................... 0.376

Note: For footnotes, see last page of this appendix.
C-31

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table C-15.

Average Income-to-Poverty Ratios for Families by Income Fifths: 1967 to 1997

[Families as of March of the following year]

Year Number of families

(thous.) Lowest fifth Second fifth Middle fifth Fourth fifth Highest fifth

1997 ............................... 70,884 0.99 2.30 3.45 4.93 10.02

1996 ............................... 70,241 0.96 2.22 3.37 4.78 9.55

1995 24 ............................. 69,597 0.97 2.22 3.33 4.70 9.33

1994 23 ............................. 69,313 0.92 2.17 3.26 4.67 9.22

1993 22 ............................. 68,506 0.88 2.10 3.19 4.60 9.07

1992 21 ............................. 68,216 0.89 2.15 3.26 4.55 8.39

1991 ............................... 67,173 0.94 2.22 3.28 4.60 8.40

1990 ............................... 66,322 0.99 2.27 3.35 4.70 8.61

1989 ............................... 66,090 1.01 2.30 3.43 4.79 8.90

1988 ............................... 65,837 0.99 2.27 3.39 4.73 8.48

1987 20 ............................. 65,204 0.99 2.28 3.39 4.68 8.36

1986 ............................... 64,491 0.99 2.25 3.32 4.62 8.16

1985 19 ............................. 63,558 0.96 2.17 3.20 4.43 7.80

1984 ............................... 62,706 0.95 2.15 3.15 4.38 7.48

1983 18 ............................. 62,015 0.91 2.07 3.06 4.26 7.13

1982 ............................... 61,393 0.92 2.05 3.01 4.11 6.94

1981 ............................... 61,019 0.99 2.10 3.04 4.14 6.79

1980 ............................... 60,309 1.03 2.17 3.11 4.20 6.82

1979 17 ............................. 59,550 1.11 2.28 3.25 4.38 7.18

1978 ............................... 57,804 1.12 2.29 3.24 4.36 7.14

1977 ............................... 57,215 1.10 2.21 3.18 4.27 6.91

1976 16 ............................. 56,710 1.10 2.19 3.14 4.14 6.70

1975 15 ............................. 56,245 1.08 2.13 3.04 4.01 6.55

1974 15 14 ........................... 55,698 1.13 2.24 3.11 4.12 6.69

1973 ............................... 55,053 1.12 2.27 3.15 4.19 6.99

1972 13 ............................. 54,373 1.09 2.22 3.07 4.09 6.90

1971 12 ............................. 53,296 1.05 2.08 2.89 3.82 6.47

1970 ............................... 52,227 1.04 2.10 2.88 3.80 6.38

1969 ............................... 51,586 1.06 2.13 2.91 3.80 6.35

1968 ............................... 50,823 1.04 2.06 2.80 3.64 6.13

1967 11 ............................. 50,111 0.97 1.94 2.67 3.51 6.06

Note: For footnotes, see last page of this appendix.
C-32

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-16.

Share of Aggregate Income Received by Each Fifth and Top 5 Percent

of Families: 1947 to 1997

[Families as of March of the following year]

Year

Shares of aggregate income

Gini

ratio

Lowest

fifth

Second

fifth

Third

fifth

Fourth

fifth

Highest

fifth

Top 5

percent

1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2 9.9 15.7 23.0 47.2 20.7 0.429

1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2 10.0 15.8 23.1 46.8 20.3 0.425

1995 24 . . . . . . . . . . 4.4 10.1 15.8 23.2 46.5 20.0 0.421

1994 23 . . . . . . . . . . 4.2 10.0 15.7 23.3 46.9 20.1 0.426

1993 22 . . . . . . . . . . 4.1 9.9 15.7 23.3 47.0 20.3 0.429

1992 21 . . . . . . . . . . 4.3 10.5 16.5 24.0 44.7 17.6 0.404

1991. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5 10.7 16.6 24.1 44.2 17.1 0.397

1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.6 10.8 16.6 23.8 44.3 17.4 0.396

1989. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.6 10.6 16.5 23.7 44.6 17.9 0.401

1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.6 10.7 16.7 24.0 44.0 17.2 0.395

1987 20 . . . . . . . . . . 4.6 10.7 16.8 24.0 43.8 17.2 0.393

1986. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.7 10.9 16.9 24.1 43.4 16.5 0.392

1985 19 . . . . . . . . . . 4.8 11.0 16.9 24.3 43.1 16.1 0.389

1984. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8 11.1 17.1 24.5 42.5 15.4 0.383

1983 18 . . . . . . . . . . 4.9 11.2 17.2 24.5 42.4 15.3 0.382

1982. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 11.3 17.2 24.4 42.2 15.3 0.380

1981. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3 11.4 17.5 24.6 41.2 14.4 0.369

1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3 11.6 17.6 24.4 41.1 14.6 0.365

1979 17 . . . . . . . . . . 5.4 11.6 17.5 24.1 41.4 15.3 0.365

1978. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.4 11.7 17.6 24.2 41.1 15.1 0.363

1977. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 11.7 17.6 24.3 40.9 14.9 0.363

1976 16 . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 11.9 17.7 24.2 40.7 14.9 0.358

1975 15 . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 11.9 17.7 24.2 40.7 14.9 0.357

1974 15 14 . . . . . . . . 5.7 12.0 17.6 24.1 40.6 14.8 0.355

1973. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 11.9 17.5 24.0 41.1 15.5 0.356

1972 13 . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 11.9 17.5 23.9 41.4 15.9 0.359

Year

Shares of aggregate income

Gini

ratio

Lowest

fifth

Second

fifth

Third

fifth

Fourth

fifth

Highest

fifth

Top 5

percent

1971 12 . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 12.0 17.6 23.8 41.1 15.7 0.355

1970. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.4 12.2 17.6 23.8 40.9 15.6 0.353

1969. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 12.4 17.7 23.7 40.6 15.6 0.349

1968. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 12.4 17.7 23.7 40.5 15.6 0.348

1967 11 . . . . . . . . . . 5.4 12.2 17.5 23.5 41.4 16.4 0.358

1966 10 . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 12.4 17.8 23.8 40.5 15.6 0.349

1965 9 . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2 12.2 17.8 23.9 40.9 15.5 0.356

1964. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1 12.0 17.7 24.0 41.2 15.9 0.361

1963. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 12.1 17.7 24.0 41.2 15.8 0.362

1962 8 . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 12.1 17.6 24.0 41.3 15.7 0.362

1961 7 . . . . . . . . . . . 4.7 11.9 17.5 23.8 42.2 16.6 0.374

1960. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8 12.2 17.8 24.0 41.3 15.9 0.364

1959. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9 12.3 17.9 23.8 41.1 15.9 0.361

1958. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 12.5 18.0 23.9 40.6 15.4 0.354

1957. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1 12.7 18.1 23.8 40.4 15.6 0.351

1956. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 12.5 17.9 23.7 41.0 16.1 0.358

1955. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8 12.3 17.8 23.7 41.3 16.4 0.363

1954. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5 12.1 17.7 23.9 41.8 16.3 0.371

1953. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.7 12.5 18.0 23.9 40.9 15.7 0.359

1952 6 . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9 12.3 17.4 23.4 41.9 17.4 0.368

1951. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 12.4 17.6 23.4 41.6 16.8 0.363

1950. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5 12.0 17.4 23.4 42.7 17.3 0.379

1949 5 . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5 11.9 17.3 23.5 42.7 16.9 0.378

1948. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9 12.1 17.3 23.2 42.4 17.1 0.371

1947 4 . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 11.9 17.0 23.1 43.0 17.5 0.376

Note: For footnotes, see last page of this appendix.
C-33

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table C-17.

Median Household Income by Race and Hispanic Origin of Householder: 1967 to 1997

[Households as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1]

Year

Race

Hispanic

origin 3 Total White Black

Asian and

Pacific

Islander

Number (thous.)

1997................... 102,528 86,106 12,474 3,125 8,590

1996................... 101,018 85,059 12,109 2,998 8,225

1995 24 ................ 99,627 84,511 11,577 2,777 7,939

1994 23 ................ 98,990 83,737 11,655 2,040 7,735

1993 22 ................ 97,107 82,387 11,281 2,233 7,362

1992 21 ................ 96,426 81,795 11,269 2,262 7,153

1991................... 95,669 81,675 11,083 2,094 6,379

1990................... 94,312 80,968 10,671 1,958 6,220

1989................... 93,347 80,163 10,486 1,988 5,933

1988................... 92,830 79,734 10,561 1,913 5,910

1987 20 ................ 91,124 78,519 10,192 (NA) 5,642

1986................... 89,479 77,284 9,922 (NA) 5,418

1985 19 ................ 88,458 76,576 9,797 (NA) 5,213

1984 18 ................ 86,789 75,328 9,480 (NA) 4,883

1983................... 85,407 74,376 9,236 (NA) 4,326

1982................... 83,918 73,182 8,916 (NA) 4,085

1981................... 83,527 72,845 8,961 (NA) 3,980

1980................... 82,368 71,872 8,847 (NA) 3,906

1979 17 ................ 80,776 70,766 8,586 (NA) 3,684

1978................... 77,330 68,028 8,066 (NA) 3,291

1977................... 76,030 66,934 7,977 (NA) 3,304

1976 16 ................ 74,142 65,353 7,776 (NA) 3,081

1975 15 ................ 72,867 64,392 7,489 (NA) 2,948

1974 15 14 .............. 71,163 62,984 7,263 (NA) 2,897

1973................... 69,859 61,965 7,040 (NA) 2,722

1972 13 ................ 68,251 60,618 6,809 (NA) 2,655

1971 12 ................ 66,676 59,463 6,578 (NA) (NA)

1970................... 64,778 57,575 6,180 (NA) (NA)

1969................... 63,401 56,248 6,053 (NA) (NA)

1968................... 62,214 55,394 5,870 (NA) (NA)

1967 11 ................ 60,813 54,188 5,728 (NA) (NA)

Year

Race

Hispanic

origin 3 Total White Black

Asian and

Pacific

Islander

Median Income (dollars)

1997................... 37,005 38,972 25,050 45,249 26,628

1996................... 36,306 38,014 24,021 44,269 25,477

1995 24 ................ 35,887 37,667 23,583 42,773 24,075

1994 23 ................ 34,942 36,852 22,772 43,842 25,365

1993 22 ................ 34,700 36,610 21,696 42,593 25,420

1992 21 ................ 35,047 36,846 21,455 43,243 25,850

1991................... 35,501 37,201 22,162 42,952 26,739

1990................... 36,770 38,352 22,934 47,217 27,421

1989................... 37,415 39,356 23,406 46,729 28,374

1988................... 36,937 39,048 22,260 43,777 27,621

1987 20 ................ 36,820 38,794 22,142 (NA) 27,319

1986................... 36,460 38,331 22,083 (NA) 26,875

1985 19 ................ 35,229 37,154 22,105 (NA) 26,051

1984 18 ................ 34,626 36,529 20,809 (NA) 26,248

1983................... 33,655 35,294 20,029 (NA) 25,632

1982................... 33,864 35,453 20,093 (NA) 25,482

1981................... 33,978 35,900 20,145 (NA) 27,255

1980................... 34,538 36,437 20,992 (NA) 26,622

1979 17 ................ 35,703 37,433 21,978 (NA) 28,287

1978................... 35,819 37,236 22,377 (NA) 28,065

1977................... 34,467 36,245 21,388 (NA) 27,039

1976 16 ................ 34,278 35,907 21,351 (NA) 25,856

1975 15 ................ 33,699 35,241 21,156 (NA) 25,317

1974 15 14 .............. 34,627 36,213 21,536 (NA) 27,542

1973................... 35,745 37,462 22,052 (NA) 27,693

1972 13 ................ 35,053 36,774 21,465 (NA) 27,751

1971 12 ................ 33,619 35,165 20,772 (NA) (NA)

1970................... 33,942 35,353 21,518 (NA) (NA)

1969................... 34,173 35,664 21,558 (NA) (NA)

1968................... 32,964 34,322 20,239 (NA) (NA)

1967 11 ................ 31,583 32,936 19,123 (NA) (NA)

Note: For footnotes and meaning of symbol, see last page of this appendix.
C-34

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-18.

Median Income of Family Households Compared With

Nonfamily Households: 1980 to 1997

[Households as of March of the following year. Income in 1997 CPI-U adjusted dollars 1]

Year

All households Family households Nonfamily households

Number

(thous.)

Median income

(dollars)

Number

(thous.)

Median income

(dollars)

Number

(thous.)

Median income

(dollars)

1997 ............................... 102,528 37,005 70,880 45,347 31,648 21,705

1996 ............................... 101,018 36,306 70,241 44,071 30,777 21,454

1995 24 ............................. 99,627 35,887 69,594 43,415 30,033 20,988

1994 23 ............................. 98,990 34,942 69,305 42,659 29,686 20,520

1993 22 ............................. 97,107 34,700 68,490 41,634 28,617 20,971

1992 21 ............................. 96,426 35,047 68,216 42,317 28,210 20,283

1991 ............................... 95,676 35,502 67,175 42,898 28,501 20,950

1990 ............................... 94,312 36,770 66,322 43,848 27,990 21,723

1989 ............................... 93,347 37,415 66,090 44,827 27,257 22,153

1988 ............................... 92,830 36,937 65,837 44,081 26,994 21,908

1987 20 ............................. 91,124 36,820 65,204 44,147 25,919 20,979

1986 ............................... 89,479 36,460 64,491 43,556 24,988 20,720

1985 19 ............................. 88,458 35,229 63,558 41,799 24,900 20,582

1984 18 ............................. 86,789 34,626 62,706 41,169 24,082 20,062

1983 ............................... 85,407 33,655 61,997 39,936 23,410 19,353

1982 ............................... 83,918 33,864 61,393 39,645 22,525 19,173

1981 ............................... 83,527 33,978 61,019 40,173 22,508 18,499

1980 ............................... 82,368 34,538 60,309 41,270 22,059 18,441

Note: For footnotes, see last page of this appendix.
C-35

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table C-19.

Gini Ratios for Households by Race and Hispanic Origin of

Householder: 1967 to 1997

[Households as of March of the following year]

Year

Race

Hispanic

origin 3 Total White Black

1997.......................... 0.459 0.453 0.458 0.458

1996.......................... 0.455 0.446 0.479 0.457

1995 24........................ 0.450 0.442 0.468 0.455

1994 23........................ 0.456 0.448 0.477 0.459

1993 22........................ 0.454 0.444 0.484 0.447

1992 21........................ 0.434 0.423 0.470 0.430

1991.......................... 0.428 0.418 0.464 0.427

1990.......................... 0.428 0.419 0.464 0.425

1989.......................... 0.431 0.422 0.461 0.430

1988.......................... 0.427 0.416 0.468 0.437

1987 20........................ 0.426 0.415 0.468 0.441

1986.......................... 0.425 0.415 0.464 0.424

1985 19........................ 0.419 0.411 0.450 0.418

1984.......................... 0.415 0.405 0.450 0.420

1983 18........................ 0.414 0.404 0.448 0.413

1982.......................... 0.412 0.403 0.442 0.417

Year

Race

Hispanic

origin 3 Total White Black

1981.......................... 0.406 0.397 0.440 0.398

1980.......................... 0.403 0.394 0.439 0.405

1979 17........................ 0.404 0.396 0.433 0.396

1978.......................... 0.402 0.394 0.431 0.385

1977.......................... 0.402 0.394 0.425 0.383

1976 16........................ 0.398 0.391 0.421 0.387

1975 15........................ 0.397 0.390 0.419 0.388

1974 15 14 ..................... 0.395 0.387 0.414 0.376

1973.......................... 0.397 0.389 0.419 0.371

1972 13........................ 0.401 0.393 0.427 0.373

1971 12........................ 0.396 0.389 0.419 (NA)

1970.......................... 0.394 0.387 0.422 (NA)

1969.......................... 0.391 0.383 0.411 (NA)

1968.......................... 0.388 0.381 0.412 (NA)

1967 11........................ 0.399 0.391 0.432 (NA)

Note: For footnotes and meaning of symbol, see last page of this appendix.
C-36

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-20.

Share of Aggregate Income Received by Each Fifth and Top 5 Percent of Households:

1967 to 1997

[Households as of March of the following year]

Year Total

(thous.)

Shares of aggregate income

Lowest fifth Second fifth Third fifth Fourth fifth Highest fifth Top 5 percent

1997 ............................... 102,528 3.6 8.9 15.0 23.2 49.4 21.7

1996 ............................... 101,018 3.7 9.0 15.1 23.3 49.0 21.4

1995 24 ............................. 99,627 3.7 9.1 15.2 23.3 48.7 21.0

1994 23 ............................. 98,990 3.6 8.9 15.0 23.4 49.1 21.2

1993 22 ............................. 97,107 3.6 9.0 15.1 23.5 48.9 21.0

1992 21 ............................. 96,426 3.8 9.4 15.8 24.2 46.9 18.6

1991 ............................... 95,699 3.8 9.6 15.9 24.2 46.5 18.1

1990 ............................... 94,312 3.9 9.6 15.9 24.0 46.6 18.6

1989 ............................... 93,347 3.8 9.5 15.8 24.0 46.8 18.9

1988 ............................... 92,830 3.8 9.6 16.0 24.3 46.3 18.3

1987 20 ............................. 91,124 3.8 9.6 16.1 24.3 46.2 18.2

1986 ............................... 89,479 3.9 9.7 16.2 24.5 45.7 17.5

1985 19 ............................. 88,458 4.0 9.7 16.3 24.6 45.3 17.0

1984 ............................... 86,789 4.1 9.9 16.4 24.7 44.9 16.5

1983 18 ............................. 85,290 4.1 10.0 16.5 24.7 44.7 16.4

1982 ............................... 83,918 4.1 10.1 16.6 24.7 44.5 16.2

1981 ............................... 83,527 4.2 10.2 16.8 25.0 43.8 15.6

1980 ............................... 82,368 4.3 10.3 16.9 24.9 43.7 15.8

1979 17 ............................. 80,776 4.2 10.3 16.9 24.7 44.0 16.4

1978 ............................... 77,330 4.3 10.3 16.9 24.8 43.7 16.2

1977 ............................... 76,030 4.4 10.3 17.0 24.8 43.6 16.1

1976 16 ............................. 74,142 4.4 10.4 17.1 24.8 43.3 16.0

1975 15 ............................. 72,867 4.4 10.5 17.1 24.8 43.2 15.9

1974 15 14 ........................... 71,163 4.4 10.6 17.1 24.7 43.1 15.9

1973 ............................... 69,859 4.2 10.5 17.1 24.6 43.6 16.6

1972 13 ............................. 68,251 4.1 10.5 17.1 24.5 43.9 17.0

1971 12 ............................. 66,676 4.1 10.6 17.3 24.5 43.5 16.7

1970 ............................... 64,778 4.1 10.8 17.4 24.5 43.3 16.6

1969 ............................... 63,401 4.1 10.9 17.5 24.5 43.0 16.6

1968 ............................... 62,214 4.2 11.1 17.5 24.4 42.8 16.6

1967 11 ............................. 60,813 4.0 10.8 17.3 24.2 43.8 17.5

Note: For footnotes, see last page of this appendix.
C-37

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table C-21.

Poverty Rate of People by Age: 1966 to 1997

[People as of March of the following year]

Year Under 18

years old

18 to 64

years old

65 years old

and over

1997............................... 19.9 10.9 10.5

1996............................... 20.5 11.4 10.8

1995 24 ............................ 20.8 11.4 10.5

1994 23 ............................ 21.8 11.9 11.7

1993 22 ............................ 22.7 12.4 12.2

1992 21 ............................ 22.3 11.9 12.9

1991............................... 21.8 11.4 12.4

1990............................... 20.6 10.7 12.2

1989............................... 19.6 10.2 11.4

1988............................... 19.5 10.5 12.0

1987 20 ............................ 20.3 10.6 12.5

1986............................... 20.5 10.8 12.4

1985 19 ............................ 20.7 11.3 12.6

1984............................... 21.5 11.7 12.4

1983 18 ............................ 22.3 12.4 13.8

1982............................... 21.9 12.0 14.6

Year Under 18

years old

18 to 64

years old

65 years old

and over

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.0 11.1 15.3

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.3 10.1 15.7

1979 17 ............................ 16.4 8.9 15.2

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.9 8.7 14.0

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.2 8.8 14.1

1976 16 ............................ 16.0 9.0 15.0

1975 15 ............................ 17.1 9.2 15.3

1974 15 14.......................... 15.4 8.3 14.6

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.4 8.3 16.3

1972 13 ............................ 15.1 8.8 18.6

1971 12 ............................ 15.3 9.3 21.6

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.1 9.0 24.6

1969 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.0 8.7 25.3

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.6 9.0 25.0

1967 11 ............................ 16.6 10.0 29.5

1966 10 ............................ 17.6 10.5 28.5

Note: For footnotes, see last page of this appendix.
C-38

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-22.

Poverty Status of People by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1959 to 1997

[People as of March of the following year]

Race, Hispanic origin, and year Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Number

(thous.) Percent

ALL RACES

1997 ............................... 268,480 35,574 13.3

1996 ............................... 266,218 36,529 13.7

1995 24 ............................. 263,733 36,425 13.8

1994 23 ............................. 261,616 38,059 14.5

1993 22 ............................. 259,278 39,265 15.1

1992 21 ............................. 256,549 38,014 14.8

1991 ............................... 251,179 35,708 14.2

1990 ............................... 248,644 33,585 13.5

1989 ............................... 245,992 31,528 12.8

1988 ............................... 243,530 31,745 13.0

1987 20 ............................. 240,982 32,221 13.4

1986 ............................... 238,554 32,370 13.6

1985 19 ............................. 236,594 33,064 14.0

1984 ............................... 233,816 33,700 14.4

1983 18 ............................. 231,700 35,303 15.2

1982 ............................... 229,412 34,398 15.0

1981 ............................... 227,157 31,822 14.0

1980 ............................... 225,027 29,272 13.0

1979 17 ............................. 222,903 26,072 11.7

1978 ............................... 215,656 24,497 11.4

1977 ............................... 213,867 24,720 11.6

1976 16 ............................. 212,303 24,975 11.8

1975 15 ............................. 210,864 25,877 12.3

1974 15 14........................... 209,362 23,370 11.2

1973 ............................... 207,621 22,973 11.1

1972 13 ............................. 206,004 24,460 11.9

1971 12 ............................. 204,554 25,559 12.5

1970 ............................... 202,183 25,420 12.6

1969 ............................... 199,517 24,147 12.1

1968 ............................... 197,628 25,389 12.8

1967 11 ............................. 195,672 27,769 14.2

1966 10 ............................. 193,388 28,510 14.7

1965 9 ............................. 191,413 33,185 17.3

1964 ............................... 189,710 36,055 19.0

1963 ............................... 187,258 36,436 19.5

1962 8 ............................. 184,276 38,625 21.0

Race, Hispanic origin, and year Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Number

(thous.) Percent

1961 7 ............................. 181,277 39,628 21.9

1960 .............................. 179,503 39,851 22.2

1959 .............................. 176,557 39,490 22.4

WHITE

1997 .............................. 221,200 24,396 11.0

1996 .............................. 219,656 24,650 11.2

1995 24 ............................ 218,028 24,423 11.2

1994 23 ............................ 216,460 25,379 11.7

1993 22 ............................ 214,899 26,226 12.2

1992 21 ............................ 213,060 25,259 11.9

1991 .............................. 210,121 23,747 11.3

1990 .............................. 208,611 22,326 10.7

1989 .............................. 206,853 20,785 10.0

1988 .............................. 205,235 20,715 10.1

1987 20 ............................ 203,605 21,195 10.4

1986 .............................. 202,282 22,183 11.0

1985 19 ............................ 200,918 22,860 11.4

1984 .............................. 198,941 22,955 11.5

1983 18 ............................ 197,496 23,984 12.1

1982 .............................. 195,919 23,517 12.0

1981 .............................. 194,504 21,553 11.1

1980 .............................. 192,912 19,699 10.2

1979 17 ............................ 191,742 17,214 9.0

1978 .............................. 186,450 16,259 8.7

1977 .............................. 185,254 16,416 8.9

1976 16 ............................ 184,165 16,713 9.1

1975 15 ............................ 183,164 17,770 9.7

1974 15 14 .......................... 182,376 15,736 8.6

1973 .............................. 181,185 15,142 8.4

1972 13 ............................ 180,125 16,203 9.0

1971 12 ............................ 179,398 17,780 9.9

1970 .............................. 177,376 17,484 9.9

1969 .............................. 175,349 16,659 9.5

1968 .............................. 173,732 17,395 10.0

1967 11 ............................ 172,038 18,983 11.0

1966 10 ............................ 170,247 19,290 11.3
C-39

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Race, Hispanic origin, and year Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Number

(thous.) Percent

1965 9 ............................. 168,732 22,496 13.3

1964 ............................... 167,313 24,957 14.9

1963 ............................... 165,309 25,238 15.3

1962 8 ............................. 162,842 26,672 16.4

1961 7 ............................. 160,306 27,890 17.4

1960 ............................... 158,863 28,309 17.8

1959 ............................... 156,956 28,484 18.1

BLACK2

1997 ............................... 34,458 9,116 26.5

1996 ............................... 34,110 9,694 28.4

1995 24 ............................. 33,740 9,872 29.3

1994 23 ............................. 33,353 10,196 30.6

1993 22 ............................. 32,910 10,877 33.1

1992 21 ............................. 32,411 10,827 33.4

1991 ............................... 31,312 10,242 32.7

1990 ............................... 30,806 9,837 31.9

1989 ............................... 30,332 9,302 30.7

1988 ............................... 29,849 9,356 31.3

1987 20 ............................. 29,362 9,520 32.4

1986 ............................... 28,871 8,983 31.1

1985 19 ............................. 28,485 8,926 31.3

1984 ............................... 28,087 9,490 33.8

1983 18 ............................. 27,678 9,882 35.7

1982 ............................... 27,216 9,697 35.6

1981 ............................... 26,834 9,173 34.2

1980 ............................... 26,408 8,579 32.5

1979 17 ............................. 25,944 8,050 31.0

1978 ............................... 24,956 7,625 30.6

1977 ............................... 24,710 7,726 31.3

1976 16 ............................. 24,399 7,595 31.1

1975 15 ............................. 24,089 7,545 31.3

1974 15 14........................... 23,699 7,182 30.3

1973 ............................... 23,512 7,388 31.4

Race, Hispanic origin, and year Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Number

(thous.) Percent

1972 13 ............................ 23,144 7,710 33.3

1971 12 ............................ 22,784 7,396 32.5

1970 .............................. 22,515 7,548 33.5

1969 .............................. 22,011 7,095 32.2

1968 .............................. 21,944 7,616 34.7

1967 11 ............................ 21,590 8,486 39.3

HISPANIC ORIGIN 3

1997 .............................. 30,637 8,308 27.1

1996 .............................. 29,614 8,697 29.4

1995 24 ............................ 28,344 8,574 30.3

1994 23 ............................ 27,442 8,416 30.7

1993 22 ............................ 26,559 8,126 30.6

1992 21 ............................ 25,646 7,592 29.6

1991 .............................. 22,068 6,339 28.7

1990 .............................. 21,405 6,006 28.1

1989 .............................. 20,746 5,430 26.2

1988 .............................. 20,064 5,357 26.7

1987 20 ............................ 19,395 5,422 28.0

1986 .............................. 18,758 5,117 27.3

1985 19 ............................ 18,075 5,236 29.0

1984 .............................. 16,916 4,806 28.4

1983 18 ............................ 16,544 4,633 28.0

1982 .............................. 14,385 4,301 29.9

1981 .............................. 14,021 3,713 26.5

1980 .............................. 13,600 3,491 25.7

1979 17 ............................ 13,371 2,921 21.8

1978 .............................. 12,079 2,607 21.6

1977 .............................. 12,046 2,700 22.4

1976 16 ............................ 11,269 2,783 24.7

1975 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,117 2,991 26.9

1974 15 14 .......................... 11,201 2,575 23.0

1973 .............................. 10,795 2,366 21.9

Note: Beginning in 1979 families exclude unrelated subfamilies.

For footnotes, see last page of this appendix.

Table C-22.

Poverty Status of People by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1959 to 1997 —Con.

[People as of March of the following year]
C-40

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table C-23.

Poverty Status of Families by Type of Family: 1959 to 1997

[Families as of March of the following year]

Year

All families Married-couple families Male householder, no wife present

Female householder, no husband

present

Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Number

(thous.) Percent

Number

(thous.) Percent

Number

(thous.) Percent

Number

(thous.) Percent

1997 ................... 70,884 7,324 10.3 54,321 2,821 5.2 3,911 508 13.0 12,652 3,995 31.6

1996 ................... 70,241 7,708 11.0 53,604 3,010 5.6 3,847 531 13.8 12,790 4,167 32.6

1995 25 ................. 69,597 7,532 10.8 53,570 2,982 5.6 3,513 493 14.0 12,514 4,057 32.4

1994 24 ................. 69,313 8,053 11.6 53,865 3,272 6.1 3,228 549 17.0 12,220 4,232 34.6

1993 23 ................. 68,506 8,393 12.3 53,181 3,481 6.5 2,914 488 16.8 12,411 4,424 35.6

1992 22 ................. 68,216 8,144 11.9 53,090 3,385 6.4 3,065 484 15.8 12,061 4,275 35.4

1991 ................... 67,173 7,712 11.5 52,457 3,158 6.0 3,024 393 13.0 11,692 4,161 35.6

1990 ................... 66,322 7,098 10.7 52,147 2,981 5.7 2,907 349 12.0 11,268 3,768 33.4

1989 ................... 66,090 6,784 10.3 52,137 2,931 5.6 2,884 348 12.1 10,890 3,504 32.2

1988 ................... 65,837 6,874 10.4 52,100 2,897 5.6 2,847 336 11.8 10,890 3,642 33.4

1987 21 ................. 65,204 7,005 10.7 51,675 3,011 5.8 2,833 340 12.0 10,696 3,654 34.2

1986 ................... 64,491 7,023 10.9 51,537 3,123 6.1 2,510 287 11.4 10,445 3,613 34.6

1985 20 ................. 63,558 7,223 11.4 50,933 3,438 6.7 2,414 311 12.9 10,211 3,474 34.0

1984 ................... 62,706 7,277 11.6 50,350 3,488 6.9 2,228 292 13.1 10,129 3,498 34.5

1983 19 ................. 62,015 7,647 12.3 50,081 3,815 7.6 2,038 268 13.2 9,896 3,564 36.0

1982 ................... 61,393 7,512 12.2 49,908 3,789 7.6 2,016 290 14.4 9,469 3,434 36.3

1981 ................... 61,019 6,851 11.2 49,630 3,394 6.8 1,986 205 10.3 9,403 3,252 34.6

1980 ................... 60,309 6,217 10.3 49,294 3,032 6.2 1,933 213 11.0 9,082 2,972 32.7

1979 18 ................. 59,550 5,461 9.2 49,112 2,640 5.4 1,733 176 10.2 8,705 2,645 30.4

1978 ................... 57,804 5,280 9.1 47,692 2,474 5.2 1,654 152 9.2 8,458 2,654 31.4

1977 ................... 57,215 5,311 9.3 47,385 2,524 5.3 1,594 177 11.1 8,236 2,610 31.7

1976 17 ................. 56,710 5,311 9.4 47,497 2,606 5.5 1,500 162 10.8 7,713 2,543 33.0

1975 16 ................. 56,245 5,450 9.7 47,318 2,904 6.1 1,445 116 8.0 7,482 2,430 32.5

1974 16 15 ............... 55,698 4,922 8.8 47,069 2,474 5.3 1,399 125 8.9 7,230 2,324 32.1

1973 ................... 55,053 4,828 8.8 46,812 2,482 5.3 1,438 154 10.7 6,804 2,193 32.2

1972 14 ................. 54,373 5,075 9.3 46,314 (NA) (NA) 1,452 (NA) (NA) 6,607 2,158 32.7

1971 13 ................. 53,296 5,303 10.0 45,752 (NA) (NA) 1,353 (NA) (NA) 6,191 2,100 33.9

1970 ................... 52,227 5,260 10.1 44,739 (NA) (NA) 1,487 (NA) (NA) 6,001 1,952 32.5

1969 ................... 51,586 5,008 9.7 44,436 (NA) (NA) 1,559 (NA) (NA) 5,591 1,827 32.7

1968 ................... 50,511 5,047 10.0 43,842 (NA) (NA) 1,228 (NA) (NA) 5,441 1,755 32.3

1967 12 ................. 49,835 5,667 11.4 43,292 (NA) (NA) 1,210 (NA) (NA) 5,333 1,774 33.3

1966 11 ................. 48,921 5,784 11.8 42,553 (NA) (NA) 1,197 (NA) (NA) 5,171 1,721 33.1
C-41

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table C-23.

Poverty Status of Families by Type of Family: 1959 to 1997—Con.

[Families as of March of the following year]

Year

All families Married-couple families Male householder, no wife present

Female householder, no husband

present

Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Total

(thous.)

Below poverty level

Number

(thous.) Percent

Number

(thous.) Percent

Number

(thous.) Percent

Number

(thous.) Percent

1965 10 ................. 48,278 6,721 13.9 42,107 (NA) (NA) 1,179 (NA) (NA) 4,992 1,916 38.4

1964 ................... 47,836 7,160 15.0 41,648 (NA) (NA) 1,182 (NA) (NA) 5,006 1,822 36.4

1963 ................... 47,436 7,554 15.9 41,311 (NA) (NA) 1,243 (NA) (NA) 4,882 1,972 40.4

1962 9 .................. 46,998 8,077 17.2 40,923 (NA) (NA) 1,334 (NA) (NA) 4,741 2,034 42.9

1961 8 .................. 46,341 8,391 18.1 40,405 (NA) (NA) 1,293 (NA) (NA) 4,643 1,954 42.1

1960 ................... 45,435 8,243 18.1 39,624 (NA) (NA) 1,202 (NA) (NA) 4,609 1,955 42.4

1959 ................... 45,054 8,320 18.5 39,335 (NA) (NA) 1,226 (NA) (NA) 4,493 1,916 42.6

Note: Beginning in 1979, families exclude unrelated subfamilies.

For footnotes and meaning of symbol, see last page of this appendix.
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL FOOTNOTES APPLY TO ALL TABLES

NA Not available.

X Not applicable.

1

Before 1983, based on CPI-U-X1.

2

Before 1967, CPI factors extrapolated.

3

People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

4

Based on 1940 census population controls.

5

Implementation of expanded income questions to show wage and salary, farm self-employment, nonfarm self-employment, and all other

nonearned income separately. 6

Implementation of 1950 census population controls.

7

Implementation of first hotdeck procedure to impute missing income entries (all income data imputed if any missing). Introduction of 1960

census sample design. 8

Full implementation of 1960 census-based sample design and population controls.

9

Implementation of new procedures to impute missing data only.

10Questionnaire expanded to ask eight income questions.

11Implementation of a new March CPS processing system.

12Introduction of 1970 census sample design and population controls.

13Full implementation of 1970 census-based sample design.

14Implementation of a new March CPS processing system. Questionnaire expanded to ask 11 income questions.

15These estimates were derived using Pareto interpolation and may differ from published data which were derived using linear interpolation.

16First year medians are derived using both Pareto and linear interpolation. Before this year all medians were derived using linear interpolation.

17Implementation of 1980 census population controls. Questionnaire expanded to show 27 possible values from 51 possible sources of income.

18Implementation of Hispanic population weighting controls and introduction of 1980 census sample design.

19Recording of amounts for earnings from longest job increased to $299,999. Full implementation of 1980 census-based sample design.

20Implementation of a new March CPS processing system.

21Implementation of 1990 census population controls.

22Data collection method changed from paper and pencil to computer-assisted interviewing. In addition, the Census Bureau revised the March

1994 income supplement to allow for the coding of different income amounts on selected questionnaire items. Limits either increased or decreased

in the following categories: earnings increased to $999,999, social security increased to $49,999, supplemental security income and public

assistance increased to $24,999, veterans’ benefits increased to $99,999, child support and alimony decreased to $49,999. 23Introduction of 1990 census sample design.

24Full implementation of the 1990 census-based sample design and metropolitan definitions, 7,000 household sample reduction, and revised

race edits.
D-1

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Appendix D.

Source and Accuracy of Estimates

Sources of Data

Most estimates in this report come from

data obtained in April 1948 through

March 1998 in the Current Population

Survey (CPS). The Census Bureau conducts the survey every month, although

this report uses only March data for its

estimates. The March survey uses two

sets of questions, the basic CPS and

the supplement.

Basic CPS. The basic CPS collects primarily labor force data about the civilian

noninstitutional population. Field representatives ask questions concerning labor

force participation about each member

15 years old and over in every sample

household.

The CPS sample includes coverage in all

50 states and the District of Columbia.

The Census Bureau continually updates

the sample to account for new residential

construction. The Census Bureau divides

the United States into 2,007 geographic

areas. In most states, a geographic area

consists of a county or several contiguous counties. In some areas of New England and Hawaii, the Census Bureau

uses minor civil divisions instead of

counties. We select a total of 754 geographic areas for sample. About 50,000

occupied households are eligible for interview every month. Field representatives are unable to obtain interviews at

about 3,200 of these units. This occurs

when the occupants are not found at

home after repeated calls or are unavailable for some other reason.

Since the introduction of the CPS, the

Census Bureau has redesigned the CPS

sample several times. These redesigns

have improved the quality and accuracy

of the data and have satisfied changing

data needs. The Census Bureau completely implemented the most recent

changes due to the 1990 census-based

redesign in July 1995.

Table D-1 summarizes changes in the

CPS designs for the years for which data

appear in this report.

CPS March supplement. In addition to

the basic CPS questions, field representatives asked supplementary questions in

March about money income received the

previous calendar year.

To obtain more reliable data for the Hispanic-origin population, the Census Bureau increased the March CPS sample by

about 2,500 eligible housing units, interviewed the previous November, that contained at least one sample person of Hispanic origin.1

 In addition, the sample

included persons in the armed forces living off post or with their families on post.

CPS estimation procedure. This

survey’s estimation procedure inflates

weighted sample results to independent

estimates of the civilian noninstitutional

population of the United States by state,

age, gender, race, and Hispanic/nonHispanic categories.

1

This report shows information on the Hispanic

population collected in the 50 states and the District

of Columbia, and therefore, does not include

residents of Puerto Rico.
D-2

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

The independent estimates are based on:

◆ The 1990 Census of Population and

Housing.

◆ An adjustment for undercoverage in

the 1990 census.

◆ Statistics on births, deaths, immigration, and emigration.

◆ Statistics on the size of the armed

forces.

The independent population estimates

used for 1994 (1993 for income estimates) and later are based on updates to

controls established by the 1990 decennial census. Data previous to 1994 are

based on independent population estimates from the latest available decennial

census data. The estimation procedure

for the March supplement included a further adjustment so husband and wife of a

household received the same weight.

The estimates in this report for 1983

(from March 1984 CPS) and later also

employ a revised survey weighting procedure for persons of Hispanic origin. In

previous years, we inflated weighted

sample results to independent estimates

of the noninstitutional population by age,

gender, and race. There was no specific

control of the survey estimates for the

Hispanic population. Since then, the Census Bureau developed independent

population controls for the Hispanic

population by gender and detailed age

groups. Revised weighting procedures

incorporate these new controls. The independent population estimates include

some, but not all, undocumented immigrants.

Accuracy of Estimates

Since the CPS estimates come from a

sample, they may differ from figures

from a complete census using the same

questionnaires, instructions, and enumerators. A sample survey estimate has

two possible types of error: nonsampling and sampling. The accuracy

of an estimate depends on both types

of error, but the full extent of the

nonsampling error is unknown. Consequently, one should be particularly

Table D–1.

Description of the March Current

Population Survey

Time period Number of

sample

areas

Housing units eligible1

Interviewed

Not

interviewed

1996 to 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 754 46,800 3,200

1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 792 56,700 3,300

1990 to 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 729 57,400 2,600

1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 729 53,600 2,500

1986 to 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 729 57,000 2,500

1985 ......................... 2

629/729 57,000 2,500

1982 to 1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 629 59,000 2,500

1980 to 1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 629 65,500 3,000

1977 to 1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 614 55,000 3,000

1973 to 1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461 46,500 2,500

1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449 45,000 2,000

1968 to 1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449 48,000 2,000

1

Excludes about 2,500 Hispanic households added from the previous November sample. (See ‘‘CPS March

Supplement.’’) 2

The Census Bureau redesigned the CPS following the 1980 Census of Population and Housing. During phase in of

the new design, housing units from the new and old designs were in the sample.
D-3

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

careful when interpreting results based

on a relatively small number of cases

or on small differences between estimates. The standard errors for CPS estimates primarily indicate the magnitude

of sampling error. They also partially

measure the effect of some nonsampling errors in responses and enumeration, but do not measure systematic biases in the data. (Bias is the average over all possible samples of the

differences between the sample estimates and the desired value.)

Nonsampling variability. We can attribute nonsampling errors to several

sources including the following:

◆ Inability to obtain information about

all cases in the sample.

◆ Definitional difficulties.

◆ Differences in the interpretation of

questions.

◆ Respondents’ inability or unwillingness to provide correct information.

◆ Respondents’ inability to recall information.

◆ Errors made in data collection, such

as in recording or coding the data.

◆ Errors made in processing the data.

◆ Errors made in estimating values for

missing data.

◆ Failure to represent all units with the

sample (undercoverage).

CPS undercoverage results from missed

housing units and missed persons within

sample households. Compared with the

level of the 1990 decennial census, overall CPS undercoverage is about 8 percent. Undercoverage varies with age,

gender, and race. Generally,

undercoverage is larger for males than

for females and larger for Blacks and

other races combined than for Whites. As

described previously, ratio estimation to

independent age-gender-race-Hispanic

population controls partially corrects for

the bias due to undercoverage. However,

biases exist in the estimates to the extent

that missed people in missed households

or missed people in interviewed households have different characteristics from

those of interviewed people in the same

age-gender-race-Hispanic group.

A common measure of survey coverage

is the coverage ratio, the estimated population before ratio adjustment divided by

the independent population control.

Table D-2 shows CPS coverage ratios for

age-gender-race groups for a typical

month. The CPS coverage ratios can exhibit some variability from month to

month, but these are a typical set of coverage ratios.

Answers to questions about money income often depend on the memory or

knowledge of one person in a household.

Recall problems can cause underestimates of income in survey data, because

it is easy to forget minor or irregular

sources of income. Respondents may

also misunderstand what the Census Bureau considers money income or may

simply be unwilling to answer these

questions correctly because the questions

are considered too personal. See Appendix C, Current Population Reports, Series

P60-184, Money Income of Households,

Families, and Persons in the United

States: 1992 for more details.

For additional information on

nonsampling error including the possible

impact on CPS data when known, refer

to Statistical Policy Working Paper 3, An

Error Profile: Employment as Measured

by the Current Population Survey, Office

of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards, U.S. Department of Commerce,

1978 and Technical Paper 40, The Current Population Survey: Design and
D-4

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Methodology, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S.

Department of Commerce.

Comparability of data. Data obtained

from the CPS and other sources are not

entirely comparable. This results from

differences in field representative training

and experience and in differing survey

processes. This is an example of

nonsampling variability not reflected in

the standard errors. Use caution when

comparing results from different sources.

A number of changes were made in data

collection and estimation procedures beginning with the January 1994 CPS. The

major change was the use of a new questionnaire. The Bureau of Labor Statistics

redesigned the questionnaire to measure

the official labor force concepts more

precisely, to expand the amount of data

available, to implement several definitional changes, and to adapt to a computer-assisted interviewing environment.

The Census Bureau modified the March

supplemental income questions for adaptation to computer-assisted interviewing,

but did not change definitions and concepts. Because of these and other

changes, one should use caution when

comparing estimates from data collected

in 1994 or later years with estimates from

earlier years.

Data users should also use caution when

comparing CPS estimates in this report,

which reflect 1990 census-based population controls, with estimates for 1992

(from March 1993 CPS) and earlier

years, which reflect 1980 census-based

population controls. This change in

population controls had relatively little

impact on summary measures such as

means, medians, and percentage distributions, but did have a significant impact

on levels. For example, 1990-based

population controls caused a 1-percent

increase in the civilian noninstitutional

population and in the number of families

and households. Thus, estimates of levels

for data collected in 1993 and later years

will differ from those published for earlier years by more than what could be attributed to actual changes in the population. These differences could be

disproportionately greater for certain subpopulation groups than for the total

population.

Since the Census Bureau did not use independent population control totals for

people of Hispanic origin before 1983,

compare Hispanic estimates over time

cautiously.

Table D–2.

March CPS Coverage Ratios

Age

Non-Black Black All races

Male Female Male Female Male Female Total

0 to 14 years ................. 0.942 0.951 0.880 0.904 0.932 0.943 0.937

15 to 19 years ................ 0.864 0.910 0.885 0.751 0.867 0.884 0.876

20 to 24 years ................ 0.823 0.877 0.707 0.757 0.808 0.859 0.834

25 to 29 years ................ 0.863 0.919 0.755 0.810 0.850 0.903 0.877

30 to 34 years ................ 0.880 0.950 0.671 0.833 0.855 0.934 0.895

35 to 44 years ................ 0.899 0.940 0.684 0.863 0.875 0.930 0.903

45 to 54 years ................ 0.938 0.961 0.778 0.953 0.923 0.960 0.942

55 to 64 years ................ 0.932 0.953 0.834 0.929 0.923 0.951 0.938

65 to 74 years ................ 0.932 0.977 0.939 0.958 0.932 0.975 0.956

75 years and older ............. 1.019 1.008 0.910 0.961 1.011 1.004 1.007

15 years and older ............. 0.902 0.945 0.767 0.858 0.887 0.934 0.912

0 years and older .............. 0.911 0.946 0.802 0.871 0.898 0.936 0.917
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

Table D-3.

CPS Standard Error Parameters for Poverty, Income, and

Nonincome Characteristics: 1997

Characteristics

Total or White Black Hispanic

ab ab a b

BELOW POVERTY

LEVEL

People

Total ................ -0.000039 10,380 -0.000301 10,380 -0.000338 10,380

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000079 10,380 -0.000647 10,380 -0.000641 10,380

Female .............. -0.000076 10,380 -0.000563 10,380 -0.000666 10,380

Age

Under 15 ............ -0.000134 8,002 -0.000834 8,002 -0.000857 8,002

Under 18 ............ -0.000112 8,002 -0.000698 8,002 -0.000664 8,002

15 and over .......... -0.000050 10,380 -0.000417 10,380 -0.000486 10,380

15 to 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000106 3,927 -0.000703 3,927 -0.000487 3,927

25 to 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000047 3,927 -0.000366 3,927 -0.000276 3,927

45 to 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000070 3,927 -0.000666 3,927 -0.000295 3,927

65 and over .......... -0.000122 3,927 -0.001463 3,927 -0.000885 3,927

Households, Families,

and Unrelated

Individuals

Total ................ +0.000102 2,442 +0.000102 2,442 +0.000102 2,442

ALL INCOME

LEVELS

People

Total ................ -0.000012 2,454 -0.000116 2,810 -0.000135 2,810

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000025 2,454 -0.000258 2,810 -0.000264 2,810

Female .............. -0.000023 2,454 -0.000210 2,810 -0.000275 2,810

Characteristics

Total or White Black Hispanic

ab ab a b

Age

15 to 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000066 2,454 -0.000503 2,810 -0.000349 2,810

25 to 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000030 2,454 -0.000262 2,810 -0.000197 2,810

45 to 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000044 2,454 -0.000477 2,810 -0.000211 2,810

65 and over ......... -0.000076 2,454 -0.001047 2,810 -0.000633 2,810

Households, Families,

and Unrelated

Individuals

Total ............... -0.000013 2,241 -0.000119 2,247 -0.000210 2,247

Households with

children under 18 .... -0.000013 2,241 -0.000119 2,247 -0.000210 2,247

NONINCOME

CHARACTERISTICS

People

Employment status .... -0.000018 2,985 -0.000125 3,139 -0.000151 3,139

Educational attainment -0.000012 2,369 -0.000139 2,680 -0.000163 3,051

Health insurance ..... -0.000024 6,332 -0.000320 11,039 -0.000359 11,039

Total Marital Status,

Other

Some household

members ........... -0.000019 5,211 -0.000217 7,486 -0.000244 7,486

All household members -0.000024 6,332 -0.000320 11,039 -0.000359 11,039

Households, Families,

and Unrelated

Individuals

Total ............... -0.000012 2,068 -0.000077 1,871 -0.000155 1,871

Note: To determine parameters prior to 1997, multiply by the appropriate factor in Table D-4. The a and b parameters should be multiplied by 1.5 for nonmetropolitan residence

categories. For foreign-born characteristics, the a and b parameters for Total and White should be multiplied by 1.3. No adjustment is necessary for Blacks and Hispanics.
D-6

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Based on the results of each decennial

census, the Census Bureau gradually introduces a new sample design for the

CPS. During this phase-in period, the

Census Bureau collects CPS data from

sample designs based on different censuses. While most CPS estimates have

been unaffected by this mixed sample,

geographic estimates are subject to

greater error and variability. Users should

exercise caution when comparing estimates across years for metropolitan/

nonmetropolitan categories. For more information, see Appendix C, Current

Population Reports, Series P60-193,

Money Income in the United States:

1995 (With Separate Data on Valuation of

Noncash Benefits).

Note when using small estimates. The

Census Bureau shows summary measures (such as medians, means, and

percentage distributions) only when the

base is 75,000 or greater. Because of

the large standard errors involved,

summary measures would probably not

reveal useful information when computed on a smaller base. However, we

display estimated numbers even

though the relative standard errors of

these numbers are larger than those for

corresponding percentages. These

smaller estimates permit combinations

of the categories to suit data users’

needs. Take care in the interpretation of

small differences. For instance, even a

small amount of nonsampling error can

cause a borderline difference to appear

significant or not, thus distorting a

seemingly valid hypothesis test.

Estimation of median incomes. The Census Bureau has changed the methodology for computing median income over

the past few years. The Census Bureau

has computed medians using either

Pareto interpolation or linear interpolation. Currently, we are using linear interpolation to estimate all medians. Pareto

interpolation assumes a decreasing density of population within an income interval; whereas, linear interpolation assumes

a constant density of population within

an income interval. The Census Bureau

calculates estimates of median income

for 1979 through 1987 and associated

standard errors using Pareto interpolation

if the estimate is larger than $20,000 for

people or $40,000 for families and

households. This is because the width of

the income interval containing the estimate is greater than $2,500.

We calculated estimates of median income for 1976, 1977, and 1978 and associated standard errors using Pareto interpolation if the estimate was larger than

$12,000 for people or $18,000 for families and households. This is because the

width of the income interval containing

the estimate is greater than $1,000. We

calculated all other estimates of median

income and associated standard errors for

1976 through 1997 and almost all of the

estimates of median income and associated standard errors for 1975 and earlier

using linear interpolation.

Thus, use caution when comparing median incomes above $12,000 for people

or $18,000 for families and households

for different years. Median incomes below those levels are more comparable

from year to year since they have always

been calculated using linear interpolation.

For an indication of the comparability of

medians calculated using Pareto interpolation with medians calculated using linear interpolation, see Series P-60, No.

114, Money Income in 1976 of Families

and Persons in the United States.

Sampling variability. Sampling variability is variation that occurred by chance

because a sample was surveyed rather
D-7

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

than the entire population. Standard errors, as calculated by methods described

in “Standard Errors and Their Use,” are

primarily measures of sampling variability, although they may include some

nonsampling error.

Standard errors and their use. Data users must use a number of approximations

to derive, at a moderate cost, standard errors applicable to all the estimates in this

report. Instead of providing an individual

standard error for each estimate, we have

provided two parameters, a and b, to calculate standard errors for each type of

characteristic.

Table D-3 has CPS standard error parameters for various types of characteristics.

Table D-4 provides factors to approximate CPS standard error parameters for

estimates prior to 1997. Table D-5 provides CPS Hispanic parameters for estimates prior to 1984. Table D-6 provides

CPS Asian and Pacific Islander parameters for income and nonincome characteristics. Table D-7 has the year-to-year

CPS correlation coefficients for income

characteristics.

The sample estimate and its standard error enable one to construct a confidence

interval, a range that would include the

average result of all possible samples

with a known probability. For example, if

all possible samples were surveyed under

essentially the same general conditions

and using the same sample design, and if

an estimate and its standard error were

calculated from each sample, then approximately 90 percent of the intervals

from 1.645 standard errors below the estimate to 1.645 standard errors above the

estimate would include the average result

of all possible samples.

A particular confidence interval may or

may not contain the average estimate derived from all possible samples. However, one can say with specified confidence that the interval includes the average estimate calculated from all possible

samples.

Some statements in the report may contain estimates followed by a number in

parentheses. This number can be added

to and subtracted from the estimate to

calculate upper and lower bounds of the

90-percent confidence interval. For example, if a statement contains the phrase

“grew by 1.7 (± 1.0) percent,” the 90-

percent confidence interval for the estimate, 1.7 percent, is 0.7 percent to

2.7 percent.

Data users may also use standard errors

to perform hypothesis testing, a procedure for distinguishing between population parameters using sample estimates.

The most common type of hypothesis

appearing in this report is that the population parameters are different. An example

of this would be comparing the median

annual income of Black families with the

median annual income of White families.

One can perform tests at various levels of

significance, where a significance level is

the probability of concluding that the

characteristics are different when, in fact,

Table D–4.

CPS Factors to Apply to a and b

Parameters for Estimates Prior to

1997

Characteristic Factor

NON-HISPANIC

1995 and 1996 ....................... 1.00

1989 to 1994 ........................ 0.92

1988 ............................... 1.02

1981 to 1987 ........................ 0.86

1967 to 1980 ........................ 0.75

HISPANIC

1995 and 1996 ....................... 1.00

1989 to 1994 ........................ 0.92

1988 ............................... 1.19

1984 to 1987 ........................ 0.86
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U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Table D-5.

CPS Standard Error Parameters for Poverty, Income, and Nonincome

Characteristics of Hispanics: 1972 to 1983

Characteristics

1972 - 1980 1981 - 1983

abab

BELOW POVERTY LEVEL

People

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000063 11,528 -0.001131 12,901

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000130 11,528 -0.002307 12,901

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000123 11,528 -0.002219 12,901

Age

Under 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000052 6,057 -0.001399 6,778

Under 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000044 6,057 -0.001184 6,778

15 and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000032 11,528 -0.000421 12,901

15 to 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000122 4,520 -0.001414 5,058

25 to 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000097 4,520 -0.000962 5,058

45 to 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000117 4,520 -0.002147 5,058

65 and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000153 4,520 -0.006068 5,058

Households, Families, and

Unrelated Individuals

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000014 2,420 -0.000237 2,708

ALL INCOME LEVELS

People

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000020 3,000 -0.000301 3,357

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000043 3,000 -0.000615 3,357

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000038 3,000 -0.000591 3,357

Characteristics

1972 - 1980 1981 - 1983

abab

Age

15 to 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000080 3,000 -0.000961 3,357

25 to 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000065 3,000 -0.000668 3,357

45 to 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000077 3,000 -0.001459 3,357

65 and over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000147 3,000 -0.004124 3,357

Households, Families, and

Unrelated Individuals

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000014 2,420 -0.000237 2,708

Households with children

under 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000014 2,420 -0.000237 2,708

NONINCOME

CHARACTERISTICS

People

Employment status . . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X)

Educational attainment . . . . . . . . . . -0.000015 2,344 -0.000152 2,623

Total, Marital Status, Other

Some household members . . . . . . . -0.000026 5,069 -0.000294 5,673

All household members . . . . . . . . . -0.000044 10,199 -0.000592 11,414

Households, Families, and

Unrelated Individuals

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0.000020 1,626 -0.000022 1,820

X Not applicable.

Note: Data users should multiply the a and b parameters by 1.5 for nonmetropolitan residence categories. The Census Bureau did not publish income data for Hispanics

before 1972.
D-9

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

they are the same. All statements of comparison in the text have passed a hypothesis test at the 0.10 level of significance

or better. This means that the absolute

value of the estimated difference between

characteristics is greater than or equal to

1.645 times the standard error of the difference.

Standard errors of estimated numbers.

The approximate standard error, sx

, of an

sx 5=ax2 1 bx (1)

estimated number shown in this report

can be obtained using the formula

Table D-6.

CPS Standard Error Parameters for Poverty,

Income, and Nonincome Characteristics of Asians

and Pacific Islanders: 1997

Characteristics a b

BELOW POVERTY LEVEL

People ................................................... -0.001119 10,380

Households, families, and unrelated individuals .................. 0.000102 2,442

ALL INCOME LEVELS

People ................................................... -0.000303 2,810

Households, families, and unrelated individuals .................. -0.000352 2,447

NONINCOME CHARACTERISTICS

People

Total, marital status, other

Some household members ................................... -0.000587 7,486

All household members ..................................... -0.000866 11,039

Households, families, and unrelated individuals ............... -0.000197 1,871

Note: To obtain parameters prior to 1997, multiply by the appropriate factor in Table D-4. Income data for Asians

and Pacific Islanders were not collected prior to 1988.

Here x is the size of the estimate and a

and b are the parameters in Table D-3 or

D-6 associated with the particular type of

characteristic. When calculating standard

errors for numbers from cross-tabulations

involving different characteristics, use the

set of parameters for the characteristic

which will give the largest standard error.

Illustration. There were 70,880,000 family households in 1998. Use the appropriate parameters from Table D-3 and formula (1) to get

Estimate, x 70,880,000

a parameter -0.000012

b parameter 2,068

Standard error 294,000

90% confidence 70,396,000 to

 interval 71,364,000

The standard error is calculated as

The 90-percent confidence interval for

the estimated number of family households in 1998 is calculated as 70,880,000

± 1.645 x 294,000.

A conclusion that the average estimate

derived from all possible samples lies

within a range computed in this way

would be correct for roughly 90 percent

of all possible samples.

Standard errors of estimated percentages. The reliability of an estimated

percentage, computed using sample data

sx 5=~20.000012! ~70,880,000!

2 1 ~2,068! ~70,880,000! 5 294,000
D-10

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

for both numerator and denominator,

depends on the size of the percentage

and its base. Estimated percentages are

relatively more reliable than the corresponding estimates of the numerators of

the percentages, particularly if the percentages are 50 percent or more. When

the numerator and denominator of the

percentage are in different categories, use

the parameter from Table D-3 or D-6 indicated by the numerator.

One can obtain the approximate standard

error, sx,p, of an estimated percentage using the formula

Estimate, p 17.8

Base, x 70,880,000

b parameter 2,068

Standard error 0.2

90% confidence interval 17.5 to 18.1

The standard error is calculated as

households that were maintained by female householders with no husband

present is calculated as 17.8 ± 1.645 x

0.2.

Standard error of a difference. The

standard error of the difference between

two sample estimates is approximately

equal to

Table D-7.

CPS Year-to-Year Correlation Coefficients for Poverty

and Income Estimates

Characteristics

Below poverty level All income levels

1972-83 or

1984-97 1983 - 1984 1971 - 1972 1970 - 1971 1960 - 1997

People

Families PeopleFamilies PeopleFamilies PeopleFamilies People

Families,

households,

and unrelated

individuals

Total ........... 0.45 0.35 0.39 0.30 0.15 0.14 0.31 0.28 0.30 0.35

White ............ 0.35 0.30 0.30 0.26 0.14 0.13 0.28 0.25 0.30 0.35

Black............. 0.45 0.35 0.39 0.30 0.17 0.16 0.35 0.32 0.30 0.35

Other races ........ 0.45 0.35 0.30 0.30 0.17 0.16 0.35 0.32 0.30 0.35

Hispanic1 ......... 0.65 0.55 0.56 0.47 0.17 0.16 0.35 0.32 0.45 0.55

1

People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

Note: These correlations are for comparisons of consecutive years. For comparisons of nonconsecutive years,

assume the correlations are zero. For Asians and Pacific Islanders, use the correlation coefficient for total. Correlation

coefficients for 1983-84 are lower than those for 1982-83 or 1984-85 because of the phase-in of the new sample design.

Here x is the total number of people,

families, households, or unrelated individuals which is the base of the percentage, p is the percentage (0 < p <100), and

b is the parameter in Table D-3 or D-6 associated with the characteristic in the numerator of the percentage.

Illustration. There were 12,652,000 or

17.8 percent of the 70,880,000 family

households maintained by female householders with no husband present. Use the

appropriate parameter from Table D-3

and formula (2) to get

sx,p 5 Î b

x p~100 2 p! (2)

sx,p 5 Î 2,068

70,880,000 ~17.8! ~100.0 2 17.8! 5 0.2

The 90-percent confidence interval for

the estimated percentage of family

sx2y 5=sx

2 1 sy2 2 2rsxsy (3)
D-11

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 16, 1998

where sx and sy are the standard errors of

the estimates, x and y. The estimates can

be numbers, percentages, ratios, etc.

Table D-7 contains the correlation coefficient, r, for year-to-year comparisons for

CPS income estimates of numbers and

proportions. This will represent the actual

standard error quite accurately for the difference between estimates of the same

characteristic in two different areas, or for

the difference between separate and

uncorrelated characteristics in the same

area. However, if there is a high positive

(negative) correlation between the two

characteristics, the formula will overestimate (underestimate) the true standard error.

Illustration. The median income of all

male full-time, year-round workers in

1997, x, was $35,248 and the median income of all female full-time, year-round

workers in 1997, y, was $26,029. The

apparent difference between the median

income of males and females in 1997

was $9,219. The approximate standard

errors, sx

 and sy, are $150 and $131, respectively. Use formula (3) with r = 0 to

get

x y difference

Estimate $35,248 $26,029 $9,219

Standard error $150 $131 $199

90% confidence

interval $35,001 to $25,814 to $8,892 to

$35,495 $26,244 to $9,546

The standard error of the difference is

calculated as

Calculate the standard error of the numerator, sx

, and that of the denominator,

sy

, using formulas described earlier. In

formula (4), r represents the correlation

between the numerator and the denominator of the estimate.

For one type of ratio, the denominator is

a count of families or households and the

numerator is a count of people in those

families or households with a certain

characteristic. If there is at least one person with the characteristic in every family or household, use 0.7 as an estimate

of r. An example of this type is the mean

number of children per family with children.

For all other types of ratios, r is assumed

to be zero. If r is actually positive (negative), then this procedure will provide an

overestimate (underestimate) of the standard error of the ratio. Examples of this

type are the mean number of children per

family and the family poverty rate.

NOTE: For estimates expressed as the ratio of x per 100 y or x per 1,000 y, multiply formula (4) by 100 or 1,000, respectively, to obtain the standard error.

sx2y 5=~150!

2 1 ~131!2 5 199

The 90-percent confidence interval for

the estimated difference between the median income of male and female fulltime, year-round workers in 1997 is calculated as $9,219 ± 1.645 x $199.

Because this interval does not contain

zero, we can conclude with 90-percent

confidence that the median income of

male full-time, year-round workers in

1997 was larger than the median income

of female full-time, year-round workers

in 1997.

Standard error of a ratio. Certain estimates may be calculated as the ratio of

two numbers. Compute the standard error of a ratio, x/y, using

sx/y 5 x

y Î[

sx

x

]

2

1[

sy

y

]

2

– 2r

sxsy

xy

(4)
D-12

U.S. Census Bureau, the Official StatisticsTM July 27, 1998

Illustration. The median earnings for fulltime, year-round female workers in 1997,

x, was $24,973 and the median earnings

for full-time, year-round male workers in

1997, y, was $33,674. The ratio of the

median earnings is 0.74. The approximate standard errors, sx

 and sy, are $155

and $320, respectively. Using formula

(4) with r = 0 to get

x y ratio

Estimate $24,973 $33,674 .74

Standard error $155 $320 .0084

90% confidence $24,718 to $33,148 to 0.73 to

 interval $25,228 $34,200 0.75

The standard error is calculated as

sx/y 5 24,973

33,674 Î[ 15524,973]

2

1 [ 320

33,674]

2

5 .0084

The 90-percent confidence interval for

the ratio of the median earnings for fulltime, year-round female workers to the

median earnings for full-time, year-round

male workers is calculated as .74 ± 1.645

x 0.0084.

Standard errors of other estimates.

This report provides standard errors for

most estimates in the respective tables, or

includes a formula showing how to calculate them. For information on calculating other standard errors, contact Genny

Burns at E-mail address:

Geneva.A.Burns@ccmail.census.gov.