Brock Goodwin, a 25‑year‑old firefighter, and nail‑technician Rilee Stewart, also 25, married last year in Utah’s Mapleton suburb. Their 2,000‑square‑foot home required a $20,000 down payment and a $3,200 monthly mortgage, straining a budget already squeezed by rising gas and grocery prices. Faced with needing a larger house for a child, the pair chose to remain child‑free.

Across the United States, childcare expenses now average $13,000 per year, up nearly 30% significantly since 2020, while home values adjusted for inflation have jumped about 60% in the past decade. A Credit Karma‑Harris Poll found three‑in‑five Gen Z and millennial adults cite financial pressure as a reason to delay or forego children. Economists link these trends to the nation’s record‑low birthrate.

The fertility squeeze reverberates through markets that depend on consumer demand. Slower household formation curtails demand for larger homes, automobiles and travel, while heightened childcare costs spark interest in daycare and initiatives. Investors watching these dynamics should weigh exposure to real‑estate developers and firms offering child‑care solutions. A slowdown in births also pressures pension funds that rely on future contributions, prompting recalibrations of asset allocations.