Hunger rates in households with children have reportedly decreased to their lowest estimate on record

Food insecurity estimates declined to pre-2008 recession levels in 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture found in a study. The number of American households without dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living declined to 11.1 percent, a drop from 11.8 percent in 2017.

The number is also down over three percentage points from its peak of 14.9 percent in 2011. The number of households struggling with what the USDA describes as "very low food security," which is considered a more severe range of food insecurity, decreased only slightly from 4.5 percent in 2017 to 4.3 percent last year.

Meanwhile, the number of food insecure households with at least one child remains higher than the overall total, but that number has declined, as well. In fact, the 13.9 percent mark — while still high — is the lowest point on record.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

The number of food insecure households with at least one senior, however, did not decrease at the same rate.

Rates of food insecurity varied by state and demographics, as well. New Hampshire registered the lowest rate at 7.8 percent, while New Mexico was highest at 16.8. Black- and Hispanic-headed households had rates of food insecurity higher than the national average. Read more here.