The poverty rate in New Jersey is on the rise, according to U.S. Census data released on Wednesday. The Bergen Record reports that the poverty rate in New Jersey increased to 11.4 percent in 2013, rising from 10.6 percent in 2012, while the national rate declined. The state’s median income has dropped by nine percent since 2000. The Record suggests a possible upward trend in 2014, due to higher minimum wages and increased employment opportunities.
