U.S. poverty rate in 2008 highest in 12 years

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-census-poverty11-2009sep11,0,148475.story
The government's first broad look at the recession's effect on the nation's households in 2008 showed the poverty rate jumped to an 11-year high, incomes sank across the board and the number of people without health insurance rose to 46.3 million.

And the numbers are expected to worsen over the next year or so.

Income Inequality Is At An All-Time High

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/14/income-inequality-is-at-a_n_259516.html
Income inequality in the United States is at an all-time high, surpassing even levels seen during the Great Depression.