Couples delay or forgo having children amid rising living costs
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Apr 26
Couples delay or forgo having children amid rising living costs
9 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Apr 26
A new Credit Karma and Harris Poll survey finds about 60% of Gen Zers and millennials cite financial concerns for postponing or avoiding parenthood, with Utah couples like Rilee Stewart and Brock Goodwin reconsidering family plans.
Rising expenses for housing, childcare, healthcare, and groceries are forcing many to scale back or abandon plans for larger families, with some even deciding to remain child free.
Child care costs in most states have risen more than twice as fast as overall prices, and home prices have surged 60% over the past decade, making parenthood increasingly unattainable for younger generations.
Is declining fertility a crisis of affordability or a quiet revolution in women's life choices?
With starter homes disappearing, what does the future of family life in America look like?
As parents increasingly support adult children, which generation will ultimately bear the cost?
If 'baby bonuses' don't work, what radical solutions could actually make parenting affordable?
How does the official inflation rate hide the true financial crisis facing young families?
Could a shrinking population be an unexpected solution to our environmental challenges?
U.S. Fertility Hits Record Low of 53.1 per 1,000 Women Amid 28% Surge in Child-Rearing Costs by 2026
Overview
Between 2024 and 2026, the U.S. faced a sharp decline in fertility rates, dropping to a record low of 1.6 births per woman in 2025, driven largely by soaring child-rearing costs that surged over 28% since 2023. Rising childcare expenses, persistent inflation, and housing price surges intensified financial pressure on families, prompting many mothers to reduce work hours or leave the labor force. This combination contributed to a shrinking workforce and labor shortages in critical care sectors, straining social safety nets like Social Security and Medicare. These economic and demographic challenges are unevenly felt across regions and racial groups, creating a complex crisis that demands urgent, multifaceted policy responses.