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Food stamp use continues to rise

 Household participation in the federal food stamp program increased 5.82 percent on a year-over-year basis, while household participation increased 7.46 percent.

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This chart shows the rise in food stamp participation as it correlates to the unemployment rate since 2005. Food stamp participation has risen steadily in the years since the economic downturn.

As a logical consequence of the prolonged economic downturn it appears that participation in the federal food stamp program is continuing to rise.

In fact, household participation has been climbing so steadily that it has far surpassed the last peak (which looks like a minor blip by comparison) set as a result of the immediate fallout following hurricane Katrina.

The latest data released by the Department of Agriculture shows that in November, 94,086 recipients were removed from the food stamps program with the current total still increasing 5.82% on a year-over-year basis while household participation increased 7.46%.

Individual participation as a ratio of the overall civilian non-institutional population has increased 5.06% over the same period.
Participation continues to increase with nominal benefit costs climbing a lofty 6.86% on a year-over-year basis to $6.20 billion for the month.

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