Poverty

The poverty rate in Louisiana – already among the nation’s highest – continues to climb, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The percentage of people without health coverage is also on the rise, according to data from the Current Population Survey (CPS).

While more complete figures won’t be available until Thursday, analysis of two-year average survey data shows Louisiana is one of a handful of states that saw a statistically significant increase in poverty between 2009-2010 and 2011-2012, even as the national poverty rate remained essentially unchanged. Most states either saw their poverty rate decrease or stay largely the same over that time period, while Louisiana saw the biggest increase.