The improvements in income levels mid income distribution were greater than expected, however, spuning a decline in the regional indigence rate. Of the 12 countries for which information is available for 2011,7 recorded declines: Paraguay (-5.2 points), Ecuador (-3.7 points), Peru (-3.5 points), Colombia (-3.1 points), Argentina (-2.9 points) and Brazil (-2.0 points each year between 2009 and 2011) and Uruguay (-1.9 points). Indigence rates were also down fairly sharply in these countries (see figure 1.2).