New Mexico – The Census Bureau reports more New Mexicans are living in poverty and only two states had a larger share of their populations in poverty.
The Census Bureau said the poverty rate in New Mexico was slightly more than 19 percent in 2008-2009 compared with more than 15 percent in 2006-2007.
Only two states had higher average poverty rates than New Mexico in 2007-2009: Mississippi at more than 21 percent and Arizona at more than 17 percent.
Economist Gerry Bradley of New Mexico Voices for Children said Friday the increased poverty reflects the impact of the recession in New Mexico.
The Census Bureau uses two-year averages for evaluating changes within a state but it provides three-year averages to make comparisons among states.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.