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

The latest data released by the Department of Agriculture indicated that in September, a whopping 359,389 individual recipients were removed from the food stamps program with the current total declining 0.85% on a year-over-year basis, the first annual decline seen since early 2007.

Individuals receiving food stamp benefits declined to 47.30 million which, as a ratio of the overall civilian non-institutional population now stands at a whopping 19.21% of the population.

Households receiving food stamps benefits declined by 94,170 to 22.99 million households with the current total rising 0.11% above the level seen a year earlier.

Total nominal benefit cost declined 1.63% on a year-over-year basis to $6.30 billion for the month.