The Poor Make It to Page One

by Joan Entmacher, Vice President for Family Economic Security
National Women’s Law Center

Poverty and the poor usually don’t get a lot of attention from the media. But today’s Washington Post tells it like it is on page one: Inflation Hits the Poor Hardest.   

For a family that has barely enough income to make ends meet, any increase in prices is more of a burden than for a family that has more than enough income to cover the basics. But there’s more to the story than that, as the article explains. Prices for basic necessities have risen far more steeply than other items over the past two years. Bread and cereals, up 9.7 percent. Dairy, up 14.8 percent. Fruits and vegetables, up 10.3 percent. Fuel oil, up 31.2 percent. Gasoline, up 17.3 percent. 

So, while the squeeze on the middle-class is real, and bad, the squeeze on the poor is even worse. Thanks for reporting it, Washington Post.

Now, for the follow-up. There are lots more stories out there about what’s been happening to investments in programs to help struggling families under the Bush budget, and how additional stimulus measures could help those most in need.

How about a series?