Food stamp usage is up again except the program is now called SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.



Inquiring minds are looking at a SNAP Participation Table that shows a record 39,430,724 receive SNAP benefits, a 22.4% increase from a year ago.



Biggest State Increases



Arizona - 32.9%

Colorado - 32.9%

Florida - 38.6%

Idaho - 45.7%

Nevada - 46.9%

Rhode Island - 42.4%

South Dakota - 32.6%

Utah - 37.3%

Wisconsin - 38.9%

Wyoming - 40.0%



Those numbers are as of January 2010



Households



Household SNAP participants increased from 12,728,981 in Fiscal Year 2008 to 15,232,105 in fiscal year 2009, a 16.4% increase. For comparison purposes, watch the growth in household participation.



SNAP Household Participation



FY 2005 - 11,197,377

FY 2006 - 11,734,491

FY 2007 - 11,789,594

FY 2008 - 12,728,981

FY 2009 - 15,232,105



Cost of SNAP Program



FY 2005 - $31.07 Billion

FY 2006 - $32.91 Billion

FY 2007 - $33.19 Billion

FY 2008 - $37.66 Billion

FY 2009 - $53.63 Billion



Household and cost numbers are as of March 30, 2010.



Clearly the recession took its toll, and will continue to do so until there is a dramatic decrease in the unemployment rate.



Mike "Mish" Shedlock

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com

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