US child poverty hits 20%

Child poverty in America has increased by 18% in the past decade leaving one in five below the poverty line, according to a new study by the Annie E Casey Foundation.

That means 15 million children are living in poverty. The reasons for this increase are cited as the recession causing 12% unemployment and home repossessions as people are unable to meet mortgage repayments.

The report authors also add that a higher income level of $43,512 for a family of four should be used to define poverty - twice the rate used by the US government - as "a minimum needed for most families to make ends meet".

That would mean that 31 million children, or 42% of the total, live in poverty.

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