U.S. Birthrate Declines for Sixth Consecutive Year

U.S. Birthrate Declines for Sixth Consecutive Year; Economy Could Be Factor

See original/source content: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/05/us/us-sees-decline-in-births-for-sixth-year.html?_r=0

The number of women in the United States who gave birth dropped last year, according to federal statistics released Thursday, extending the decline for a sixth year.
The National Center for Health Statistics reported Thursday that there were 3.93 million births in the United States in 2013, down slightly from 3.95 million in 2012, but 9 percent below the high in 2007.
According to the report, the general fertility rate in the United States – the average number of babies women from 15 to 44 bear over their lifetime – dropped to a record low last year, to 1.86 babies, well below the 2.1 needed for a stable population. For every 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, there were 62.5 births in 2013, compared with 63 the previous year.

See original/source content: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/05/us/us-sees-decline-in-births-for-sixth-year.html?_r=0