US poverty rate continues to rise

There were 37 million people living in poverty in 2004, up 12.7% from the previous year. read
Rising oil prices, home prices, hurricanes and more are all taking their toll. Over a year ago the owner of the company I worked for asked the staff why people weren't buying. At this point gas prices were no where the level they have risen to today. Others in the same business were also asking the same question. At that time here in the province of Ontario the government had decided to slap a health care tax on each working individual. The amount would be about 300 dollars a year off your pay check. Gas had risen slightly also and any one with a home had seen an increase in their property taxes. I estimate about 1000 dollars less in your pocket. When large companies begin to ask the same questions as to why people aren't buying possibly someone will start to care. The gap between rich and poor is increasing greatly. Just to let you know there are about 36 million people living in Canada, about the same number of people living in poverty in the US.