Analysis of information gained from the March 1986 Current Population Survey (CPS) conducted by the Bureau of the Census shows the following results for the year 1985: (1) median family money income continued to move ahead of inflation; (2) the median earnings of men showed no statistically significant change from 1984, but the earnings of women rose by 2.1 percent; (3) in the last ten years per capita income has increased considerably more than median family income; (4) the number of persons below poverty level was 33.1 million; (5) both the number of blacks in poverty and their poverty rate declined between 1984 and 1985; (6) the poverty rate among children and the elderly did not change significantly from 1984; and (7) the number in poverty and the poverty rate declined in the Northeast, but did not change significantly in other regions. Twenty-one tables of statistics are included. Appendices provide definitions and explanations, information on sources and reliability of estimates, and comments on underreporting. (PS)