Food Stamp Rolls Down By 1 Million

The number of Americans who get help with their grocery bills continues to shrink. Agriculture Department figures indicated Thursday that the food stamp program is serving nearly 1 million fewer people than a year ago.

USDA, which oversees the government’s largest welfare program, said 26.74 million people were collecting food stamps in April, compared with 27.1 million people in March, and with 27.73 million recipients in April 1994.

USDA said the numbers were a sign of an improving economy.