Childcare Costs, Reduced Work, and Financial Strain: New Estimates for Low-Income Families

"According to new survey data from the Federal Reserve’s 2023 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (“SHED”), low-income families are more likely to reduce work to care for young children while high income families are more likely to pay for care.^[i] These differing decisions have financial consequences, as families who reduce work are less well off financially than those who are not reducing work. Although families who pay for care are better off overall, child care costs are still a notable expense. On average, families who pay for care pay about half as much for that care as for housing each month. This analysis suggests how government and private sector support for child care might vary by income

Families handle care responsibilities differently across income levels

As shown in Figure 1, families at different income levels make different decisions about how to care for their children. Households with young children and that make less than $75,000 per year are more likely to provide care themselves, with about 35 percent of these households reducing work to care for children. As income rises, the share of households using paid child care rises – from 17 percent for those making less than $24,000 to 41 percent for those making more than $150,000. The highest earners are unlikely to reduce work to care for children, without only about 14 percent of households doing so.."
Childcare Costs 

Cars & Consumer Data: On Unlawful Collection & Use

"Some say the car a person drives can say a lot about them. As cars get “connected,” this turns out to be truer than many people might have realized. While connectivity can let drivers do things like play their favorite internet radio stations or unlock their car with an app, connected cars can also collect a lot of data about people. This data could be sensitive—such as biometric information or location—and its collection, use, and disclosure can threaten consumers’ privacy and financial welfare.

Connected cars have been on the FTC’s radar for years. The FTC highlighted concerns related to connected cars as part of an “Internet of Things” workshop held in 2013, followed by a 2015 report. In 2018, the FTC hosted a connected cars workshop highlighting issues ranging from unexpected secondary uses of data to security risks. The agency has also published guidance to consumers reminding them to wipe the data on their cars before selling them—much as anyone would when trying to resell a computer or smart phone.

Over the years, privacy advocates have raised concerns about the vast amount of data that could be collected from cars, such as biometric, telematic, geolocation, video, and other personal information. News reports have also suggested that data from connected cars could be used to stalk people or affect their insurance rates. Many have noted that when any company collects a large amount of sensitive data, it can pose national security issues if that data is shared with foreign actors.."
Cars and Consumer Data 

Heat Risk Check

"Home

Hot days can affect anyone. If you are pregnant, are a child or teen with asthma, or have a heart condition or other chronic health conditions, heat can make your health worse.

Enter your zip code below to get the HeatRisk for this week and actions you can take to keep you and your family safe.

Get Your Local HeatRisk

"

Heat Risk 

Legal Definitions: A Research Guide for Congressional Staff

"This report is designed to introduce congressional staff to examples of legal and nonlegal sources, including statutes, legislation, and dictionaries, for researching legal definitions. It includes governmental sources, such as the United States Code (U.S. Code), the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), and congressional legislation. Proprietary information sources are also included..."
Legal Definitions 

2024 Kids Count Data Book

"This year’s publication continues to present national and state data across four domains — economic well-being, education, health and family and community — and ranks states in overall child well-being. The report includes pre-pandemic figures as well as more recent statistics, and shares the latest information of its kind available.

THE CURRENT STATE OF CHILD CARE IN THE UNITED STATES

America's child care system is broken. Safe, reliable child care has largely been inaccessible and unaffordable for too many Americans. Disparities between who can and can't afford child care reflect long-standing structural inequities in the United States. Shift workers, single parents, student parents and families of color are particularly affected by the failings of the child care system. Children are deprived of nurturing care, and caregivers are prevented from earning money to meet basic needs.

The child care system's inadequacies hinder family economic mobility and perpetuate generational wealth gaps. Affordability impacts accessibility, and the cost of child care has tripled since the publication of the first KIDS COUNT Data Book in 1990. The inability to access care can force caregivers to have to leave work early, be late for work or miss days entirely. Even more troubling: Almost a quarter of parents report being fired because of difficulties accessing child care. It's a cycle: Child care is inaccessible, the parent loses their job, which makes affording child care to secure a new job even more difficult.."
Kids Count Data