The official U.S. Poverty rate was 15 percent in 2011, roughly unchanged since 2010, but the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS) says the poverty rate is 15.9 percent in 2011, up from 15.3 percent in 2010. The ACS rates are more precisely estimated, but the 2011 rate reflects poverty in boht 2010 and 2011; the 2010 rate reflects poverty in both 2009 and 2010. Poverty has fallen during 2011 so the official poverty rate better reflects improved circumstances toward the end of 2011, relative to 2010 and early 2011.