Americans reading less, survey said

NEW YORK, July 8 (UPI) -- Fewer Americans across all demographics are reading fiction, poetry and drama than a decade ago, a survey indicates.

The National Endowment of the Arts released "Reading At Risk," Thursday, based on data collected in 2002 by the Census Bureau, with findings that less than half of Americans older than 18 read novels, short stories, plays or poetry, the New York Times reported.

"What this study does is give us accurate numbers that support our worst fears about American reading," said Dana Gioia, the chairman of the endowment.

"Reading is in decline among all groups, in every region, at every educational level and within every ethnic group," he said.

Fifty-six percent of the survey participants read a book of any kind during the past year, down from 60.9 percent 10 years ago. Readers of literature fell to 46.7 percent of the adult population, down from 54 percent in 1992.

The survey sample of 17,135 people made it one of the most comprehensive studies conducted about arts participation.