The difference between the incomes of Hispanics and non-Hispanics grew in the 1980s, intensified by the wider gap between wealthy and other Americans, a report issued Monday said.
Hispanics have traditionally earned less than non-Hispanics. But the study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said the gap swelled during the past decade principally because Hispanic income stagnated.Hispanics are nearly three times as likely to be among the poorest fifth of American households than among the wealthiest fifth.
The findings follow recent reports that Hispanics are the most under-educated segment of the U.S. population and the fastest-growing. They are expected to be the largest minority community within 10 years.
In 1979, the income of the typical Hispanic family was 71 percent of the average non-Hispanic family. That figure was 66 percent by 1988.