U.S. Births Fall 2% in 2017 to 30-year Low

U.S. births declined for the third year in a row in 2017 to 3.85 million, the fewest in 30 years, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Birth rates dropped for women in their teens, 20s and 30s, but rose for women in their early 40s. The general fertility rate fell 3% to a record low 60.2 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44. Rates of preterm birth, low birthweight and Cesarean delivery each rose by 0.1 percentage point or less.