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Report: Rising Share Of Hispanics Speak Proficient English

LOS ANGELES — Researchers say a rising percentage of Hispanics in the United States speak proficient English and the share of those speaking Spanish at home has been declining.

A Pew Research Center report released Tuesday says 68 percent of Hispanics spoke only English or spoke English very well in 2013, up from 59 percent in 2000.

The report says the share of Hispanics who speak Spanish at home dropped to 73 percent from 78 percent over the same period.

The shift comes as migration to the United States from Latin America has slowed.

Even so, the number of Hispanics who speak Spanish at home reached a record 35.8 million as the Hispanic population has grown. The report says the number of Hispanics who speak English proficiently also hit a record 33.2 million. (AP)