Yahoo! News - Ranks of Poor, Uninsured Rose in 2003
The reports released Thursday provide a snapshot of Americans' economic well-being in 2003, two full years after the end of the recession. In 2003, job growth was slow until the second half of the year while wages overall were stagnant. Many of those who did get jobs were faced with accepting scaled-back benefits and pension plans.

There were 35.8 million people living in poverty last year, or 12.5 percent of the population. That was 1.3 million more than in 2002.

Children made up more than half the increase — about 800,000. The child poverty rate rose from 16.7 percent in 2002 to 17.6 percent.

More people lacked health insurance as well — about 45 million last year, or 15.6 percent, compared with 43.5 million, or 15.2 percent the previous year.

Hey George! You left some children behind here!