Childcare Costs Rival Rent, Straining Family Budgets

New data from the Department of Labor reveals that child care costs in 2022 were comparable to rent for many U.S. families, with expenses ranging from $6,552 to $15,600 per child annually. This financial strain was a significant issue leading up to the 2024 election, where economic dissatisfaction played a key role. Despite Vice President Kamala Harris's proposals to reduce child care costs, President-elect Donald Trump gained voter support by capitalizing on economic concerns, although he offered few specifics on addressing child care affordability. Local measures to support child care funding saw mixed results across the country.