U.S. Food-Stamp Use Reaches Record 45.8 Million, USDA Says

The number of Americans receiving food stamps reached a record 45.8 million in August, the government said.

The figure was 1.1 percent higher than the previous month and 8.1 percent more than a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said today in a report on its website. Assistance rolls are increasing as joblessness remains at 9.1 percent of the workforce.

Texas had the most food-stamp recipients in August, at 4.12 million, followed by California with 3.82 million, according to the USDA. Spending was a record $6.13 billion.

The number of Americans receiving food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has set records every month but one since December 2008.