Keep in mind, this data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not rock-solid. Because of inconsistencies in the way information is reported, the CDC says some data that might appear to occur in one month might not have happened in a following or preceding month. So look for trends.
I have been interested in birth figures in recession years. Several states like Texas, California, Florida have seen a significant drop in births in the first 11 months of last year compared to the two previous years. Why?
Many states recorded fewer divorces in the first 11 months of 2009. The CDC stats show divorces dropping in New York, Maryland and Massachusetts. Sometimes, people put off divorces in recessions because they can’t afford the break-up.
