What are the national trends in food insecurity and hunger?
From 1995, when the first CPS Food Security Survey was fielded, to 1999, the number of food insecure households declined by about 12 percent, and the number food insecure with hunger declined by 24 percent. Adjusted for population growth, the declines amounted to 16 percent and 28 percent, respectively. The declines were quite widespread, including households of all compositions, all racial/ethnic groups, and all geographic areas. The only exception was that the prevalence rate of food insecurity increased for lower income households and was unchanged for higher-income households. Overall food insecurity declined in spite of these income-specific changes because incomes improved over the period, leaving a much smaller proportion of households in the low-income category. Q12. Does this mean that the decline in food insecurity resulted from increased income? The evidence is consistent with that explanation. The report does not provide detailed analysis of this issue, but other research b
