The income estimates compiled from the March 1977 Current Population Survey (CPS) were obtained from an expanded sample of households. This sample consisted of 65,500 housing units, approximately 10,500 more housing units than were used to develop income estimates from the March 1976 CPS. Further discussion of the sample expansion and other modifications to the income data can be found in the section, "New Procedures Used in the March 1977 CPS."

The median income of all families in the United States was $14,960 in 1976, according to results of the CPS conducted in March 1977 by the Bureau of the Census. Median family income in 1976 increased about 9 percent over the 1975 median. After adjusting for the 6-percent increase in prices between 1975 and 1976,¹ the 1976 median in terms of constant dollars increased by $450 or about 3 percent. The survey also indicated that there were about 25.0 million persons below the poverty level in 1976 comprising almost 12 percent of the U.S. population.² Overall, the poverty population decreased by about 900,000 or 3.5 percent from the 1975 figure. The poverty threshold for a nonfarm family of four in 1976 was $5,815.

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¹ The percentage increase in prices between 1975 and 1976 is computed by dividing the annual average Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 1976 by the annual average value of the CPI for 1975.
² See page 29 for an explanation of the poverty concept.