Study Shows Birth Rates are on the Rise

This may not be the sign of a new baby boom, but for the first time since 2007, the number of births in the United States increased last year. According to a recent study released by the National Center for Health Statistics, 3,985,924 babies were born in 2014, a one percent jump from 2013 (3,932,181 babies were born that year).

Women between the ages of 30 to 34 and 35-39 saw a high rise in birth rate—both up 3 percent from 2013—while the birthrate for women aged 25-29 remained essentially unchanged in recent years.

If my Facebook newsfeed acted as a case study for the stats above, there might soon be a rise in the 25 to 29 age range, as well. Though most of my social circle is at the lower end of that spectrum, over the past year I've watched several friends get engaged, move from Manhattan to the suburbs, and purchase a home. I know it's only a matter of time until the birth announcements start rolling in! (Hopefully cute ones like these.)

Experts claim this increase in baby making may be thanks to the improving economy. "The recession is ending — we think it's ending — for some people, so we might attribute a rise in the birthrate" to the economy, Carl Haub, a senior demographer for the Population Reference Bureau, told USA TODAY.

While this hasn't been proven by the recent study, it would make sense. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that parents in a middle-income group spend between $12,800 and $14,970 on the baby, annually. That's more than $245,000 by the time the kid is 18! Not easily done during a recession.

Melissa Bykofsky is the associate articles editor at Parents who covers millennial trends, entertainment, and pop-culture. Follow her on Twitter @mbykofsky.

Image: Babies via Shutterstock