Census Bureau data released Tuesday shows America's child poverty rate plunged in 2021, accelerating a decade-long decline. The decline was spurred by government assistance programs including pandemic-era aid. But August’s inflation numbers also show that the price for essentials like food, rent and medical care are still rapidly rising, putting pressure on low-income families in particular. We dig deep into these two important pieces of economic data and what they tell us about what’s happening on the lower end of the income spectrum.

Guests: Axios' Felix Salmon, Brady Dale and Dan Primack

Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Alexandra Botti, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura, and Ben O'Brien. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at [email protected]. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.

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