The Wall Street Journal reports Food Stamp Rolls Continue to Rise
42.9 million people collected food stamps last month, up 1.2% from the prior month and 16.2% higher than the same time a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Nationwide 14% of the population relied on food stamps as of September but in some states the percentage was much higher. In Washington, D.C., Mississippi and Tennessee – the states with the largest share of citizens receiving benefits – more than a fifth of the population in each was collecting food stamps.
Click on the above link to see a table of all 50 states.
Sample Details
- 16.2% Year-Over-Year Change Nationally
- 39.1% Year-Over-Year Change in Idaho
- 28.7% Year-Over-Year Change in Nevada
- 27.2% Year-Over-Year Change in New Jersey
- 26.0% Year-Over-Year Change in Rhode Island
- 25.9% Year-Over-Year Change in Utah
- 25.8% Year-Over-Year Change in Florida
- 21.5% of population in D.C. on Food Stamps
- 20.4% of population in Mississippi on Food Stamps
- 20.1% of population in Tennessee on Food Stamps
13 states had greater than 20% gains in food stamp usage. Not all of them were housing bubble states. Idaho led the way with a 39.1% year-over-year change.
Six states had a 25% change or greater. Texas just missed at 24.6%
The food stamp program is now called SNAP. It stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Reader Tim Wallace has a couple of national charts I wish to share. Click on either chart for a sharper image.
Snap Participants by Year Since 1970
SNAP as a Percentage of the US Population
Tim Wallace writes …
SNAP numbers for September just came on line, 42,911,042 – up from 42,389,614 in August, an increase of 521,428 in one month.
Furthermore, SNAP participation is now up 5,992,094 from September of ’09 and up 11,528,481 from September of ’08 – just before the election based on “Change You Can Believe In”.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
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