For the first time, a larger proportion of blacks than whites say their financial condition has improved in the past year. Experts credit the turnaround to low unemployment and the strong economy.

In the poll of 1,700 Americans -- half white and half black -- conducted by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies:

• Fifty-one percent of blacks said they felt better off financially this year than last.

• Only 31.5 percent of whites said their financial position had improved.

• Only 9.2 percent of blacks thought themselves worse off than in the previous year.

• Among whites, 17.6 percent complained that times were tougher this year than last.

In a previous poll, conducted in 1996, most blacks and whites said they were doing about the same. But a higher proportion of whites than blacks said they were doing better.

Source: Jessica Lee, "Strong Economy Reaching Blacks," USA Today, October 20, 1998.