Research Round-Up United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Report Shows Increased Food Insecurity in 2023 USDA recently released a report showing that household food insecurity rose in 2023 for the second consecutive year. Their analysis finds that nationwide, 13.5 percent of households reported food insecurity at some time in 2023—the highest percentage in nearly a decade—with 17.9 percent (2.58 million) of households with children under age six unable at some time to provide adequate, nutritious food for their children. Rates of food insecurity increased sharply in 2022 following the expiration of pandemic-era expansions of the Child Tax Credit and SNAP benefits. 2022 USDA WIC Eligibility and Participation Report Highlights Increased Coverage Rates and Demographic Breakdowns In August, the USDA released its 2022 WIC eligibility and participation report, providing national and state-level estimates of monthly eligible individuals and participation rates. The report, which includes data breakdowns by FNS region, state, race, and urbanicity, newly features coverage rates for American Indian/Alaska Native populations. In 2022, 11.79 million people were WIC-eligible monthly, with the program serving 6.3 million, 53.5 percent of those eligible, up from 51.2 percent in 2021. This represents a significant statistical increase. Participation rates were highest among infants and postpartum women, and lowest for pregnant women and children. Hispanic participants showed the highest coverage rates (63 percent), while non-Hispanic White participants had the lowest (45.9 percent). In 2022, 25 percent of all (25.2 million) pregnant, postpartum, infants and children in the nation received WIC benefits. In New York, the coverage rate was 58.5 percent (395,000 of 675,000 eligible participating). This was 27.6 percent (1.4 million) of all pregnant, postpartum, infants, and children in New York State. Participation rates were highest among infants and post-partum women and lowest for three and four-year-old children and pregnant women. Hispanic participants showed the highest coverage rates (64.1 percent), while non-Hispanic White participants had the lowest (49.7 percent). | 
