End of Pandemic Benefits , Caused Alarming Jump in , Childhood Poverty Rates.br On September 12, the United States Census br Bureau released new data showing that br child poverty more than doubled in 2022.br ABC reports that the alarming rise was the result br of the cutting of pandemic-related government br benefits combined with skyrocketing inflation.br ABC reports that the alarming rise was the result br of the cutting of pandemic-related government br benefits combined with skyrocketing inflation.br Over the same period of time, br the official poverty rate for Black Americans br reached its lowest level on record.br According to pre-tax income, br income inequality dropped br for the first time since 2007.br However, when looking at after-tax income, income br inequality actually increased over the same period of timebr as a result pandemic-era tax credits coming to an end.br ABC reports that the government expanded br child tax credit and sent out payments br to families amid the COVID pandemic.br These measures expired at the end br of 2021, while other COVID-related br benefits expired between then and now. .br This represents a return to child br poverty levels prior to the pandemic, Liana Fox, an assistant division chief at the Census Bureau, via ABC.br We did see the child tax credit hadbr a substantial decrease in child poverty, Liana Fox, an assistant division chief at the Census Bureau, via ABC.br ABC reports that median household br income in 2022 was at $74,580, br falling 2.3 from the year before.