Fewer Babies As US Birth Rate Fails To Rebound With Economy

(Associated Press) CARLA K. JOHNSON May 15 2019 Americas baby bust isnt over. The nations birth rates last year reached record lows for women in their teens and 20s a government report shows leading to the fewest babies in 32 years. The provisional report released Wednesday and based on more than 99 of U.S. birth records found 3.788 million births last year. It was the fourth year the number of births has fallen the lowest since 1986 and a surprise to some experts given the improving economy. The fertility rate of 1.7 births per U.S. woman also fell 2 meaning the current generation isnt making enough babies to replace itself. The fertility rate is a hypothetical estimate based on lifetime projections of age-specific birth rates. Whether more U.S. women are postponing motherhood or forgoing it entirely isnt yet clear. If trends continue experts said the U.S. can expect labor shortages including in elder care when aging baby boomers need the most support. I keep expecting to see the birth rates go up and then they dont" said demographer Kenneth M. Johnson of University of New Hampshires Carsey School of Public Policy. He estimates 5.7 million babies would have been born in the past decade if fertility rates hadnt fallen from pre-recession levels.