Poverty rate, actual and simulated supplemental poverty measure, 1967–2015
| Year | Actual poverty rate (Supplemental Poverty Measure, anchored 2015) | Simulated poverty rate* (predicted SPM) |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 24.4% | 24.1% |
| 1968 | 22.4% | 23.2% |
| 1969 | 21.0% | 22.6% |
| 1970 | 21.0% | 22.9% |
| 1971 | 21.0% | 22.4% |
| 1972 | 19.4% | 21.3% |
| 1973 | 18.2% | 20.0% |
| 1974 | 19.2% | 20.4% |
| 1975 | 18.4% | 20.7% |
| 1976 | 17.7% | 19.6% |
| 1977 | 17.6% | 18.5% |
| 1978 | 17.0% | 17.2% |
| 1979 | 16.8% | 16.6% |
| 1980 | 18.2% | 17.0% |
| 1981 | 19.4% | 16.6% |
| 1982 | 20.4% | 17.5% |
| 1983 | 20.9% | 16.4% |
| 1984 | 19.8% | 14.4% |
| 1985 | 19.6% | 13.3% |
| 1986 | 19.0% | 12.4% |
| 1987 | 17.8% | 11.5% |
| 1988 | 17.7% | 10.4% |
| 1989 | 17.4% | 9.4% |
| 1990 | 17.9% | 9.1% |
| 1991 | 18.5% | 9.7% |
| 1992 | 18.6% | 9.0% |
| 1993 | 19.7% | 8.4% |
| 1994 | 18.2% | 7.3% |
| 1995 | 16.6% | 6.8% |
| 1996 | 16.5% | 5.8% |
| 1997 | 15.7% | 4.4% |
| 1998 | 14.8% | 3.1% |
| 1999 | 14.1% | 1.6% |
| 2000 | 13.6% | 0.5% |
| 2001 | 14.0% | 0.6% |
| 2002 | 14.3% | 0.3% |
| 2003 | 14.4% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 14.2% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 14.0% | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 14.1% | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 14.3% | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 14.1% | |
| 2009 | 14.2% | |
| 2010 | 14.8% | |
| 2011 | 15.1% | |
| 2012 | 15.6% | |
| 2013 | 15.6% | |
| 2014 | 15.9% | |
| 2015 | 14.2% |
* Predicted SPM, or the simulated poverty rate based on the Supplemental Poverty Measure, is based on a model of the statistical relationship between growth in per capita GDP and poverty that prevailed between 1967 and 1979.
Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement data, Wimer, Fox, Garfinkel, Kaushal, and Waldfogel (2013), and Bureau of Economic Analysis National Income Product Accounts public data. Analysis using Danziger and Gottschalk (1995). Anchored 2015 SPM provided by Wimer, Fox, Garfinkel, Kaushal, and Waldfogel.
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