While poverty is on the upswing in the U.S. …

The number of Americans living in poverty jumped by 1.3 million last year as household incomes held steady, the Census Bureau said Wednesday.

The percentage of the U.S. population living in poverty rose to 12.5 percent from 12.1 percent — as the poverty rate among children jumped to its highest level in 10 years. The rate for adults 18-to-64 and 65 and older remained steady.

The bureau also said that the share of aggregate income for the lowest 20 percent of Americans fell to 3.4 percent from 3.5 percent.

[source: CNNmoney]

… it seems to be on the decline in Asia …

Asia’s surging economic growth has helped to reduce levels of poverty in the region, a report has said.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimated that the number of people living on less than $1 a day fell to 22% of the region’s population in 2002.

That compares with 34% in 1990 and shows “considerable progress in the fight against poverty”, the bank said.

[source: BBC]

Hmmm!!