Census data released this week provide a snapshot into how America lived in 2004. The picture isn't pretty, particularly for those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Last year, the nation's poverty rate rose from 12.5 percent to 12.7. The Pittsburgh region was hit particularly hard: Pennsylvania was one of only seven states and Allegheny County was one of only five large counties in the nation to see significant increases in poverty. In the county, the rate jumped 2.1 percentage points to 11.1 percent (the number of poor people in the county increased by 7,000, while the county's total population decreased by about 48,000).

For those living above the poverty level, the situation wasn't that much better. Last year marked the fifth straight year that overall household incomes showed no increase over the previous year. It's the first time since the Census has been tracking this information that household income has failed to rise for five years in a row.

Making matters worse, the nation's average household income, $44,389 before taxes, is not adjusted to reflect increases in health care costs, fuel prices or other forms of inflation. When the numbers are adjusted for inflation, household incomes last year were the lowest since 1997. To combat the effects of stagnant salaries and inflation, the Census reported that Americans are working more hours (a development sure to send chills up the spine of Sen. Rick Santorum, whose recent book makes the case that parents should spend more time at home).

For the most part, these new numbers do not show drastic changes. But the fact remains that the trend is going chronically in the wrong direction (or at best, keeping level).

It's a problem that should be a hot topic in Washington, D.C., but President Bush seems far more concerned about "fixing" Social Security and repealing the estate tax. Democratic leaders, for their part, are in disarray and have not been able to gain traction on issues like poverty and income. Bill Clinton's mantra of "It's the economy, stupid" from his first presidential campaign seems long forgotten.

While Republicans may wax enthusiastically about economic growth, the Census numbers show that for most Americans the economy stops and starts at their own shrinking pocketbook.