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→Poverty standards: official means of determination
The level at which a person or group is considered to be living in poverty is largely relative, and the ways in which they are impoverished can vary. A person who would be judged to be living in poverty in the West, in particular in the [[United States]], would typically be considered rich by [[Third World]] standards. And yet a person living in poverty in most undeveloped countries would typically be considered to be far better off than most in a country like [[North Korea]]. The highest cost of living aspect for a person living in poverty in a Western country would often be housing, while for a Third World resident it could easily be food.
The level at which a person or group is considered to be living in poverty is largely relative, and the ways in which they are impoverished can vary. A person who would be judged to be living in poverty in the West, in particular in the [[United States]], would typically be considered rich by [[Third World]] standards. And yet a person living in poverty in most undeveloped countries would typically be considered to be far better off than most in a country like [[North Korea]]. The highest cost of living aspect for a person living in poverty in a Western country would often be housing, while for a Third World resident it could easily be food.
The origin poverty level was created in 1963-1964, based on the cost of staple foods, and the percentage of income that low-income families spent on food, which then about 1/3 of their income. The Census Bureau now uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty.<ref>http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/povdef.html</ref>
The thresholds are updated annually for inflation by the Office of Management and Budget using the Consumer Price Index. The final weighted average 2008 thresholds were $14,051 for a family of two, $17,163 for a family of three and $22,025 for a family of four. See the Census Bureau page:
As far back as 2004, of households defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, forty-six percent owned their own homes, with only six percent being overcrowded, seventy-six percent had air conditioning, almost seventy five percent owned a car, with thirty percent owning two or more cars. Ninety-seven percent had a color television, with over half owning two or more color televisions, with 62 percent having cable or satellite TV reception, while seventy-eight percent also possessed a VCR or DVD player. Seventy-three percent owned a microwave oven, and a third had an automatic dishwasher.
As far back as 2004, of households defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, forty-six percent owned their own homes, with only six percent being overcrowded, seventy-six percent had air conditioning, almost seventy five percent owned a car, with thirty percent owning two or more cars. Ninety-seven percent had a color television, with over half owning two or more color televisions, with 62 percent having cable or satellite TV reception, while seventy-eight percent also possessed a VCR or DVD player. Seventy-three percent owned a microwave oven, and a third had an automatic dishwasher.