(El Universal) - "Official figures show that in the second half of 2006, 30.4 percent of Venezuelans lived in poverty, i.e. they lacked enough revenues to afford the basic basket of food and services, yet it represents a decline compared to 54 percent in 2003.

Elías Eljuri, head of the official National Statistics Institute (INE), told official television station VTV that only 9.1 percent of Venezuelans live under the poverty line, i.e. their revenues cannot afford the food basket. In 2003, the extreme poverty rate was 25.1 percent.

When comparing the figures recorded in 2006 and those at the beginning of President Hugo Chávez' government back in 1999, the poverty rate has dropped 12.4 percentage points, while extreme poverty fell 7.5 percentage points.

One of the factors helping alleviate poverty is improved household economic situation. According to INE, average household revenues jumped 34.7 percent ending 2006.