Happy Days are Here Again!

The Recession is Over!
Oh, wait, not that recession, (except, well, kinda):

WASHINGTON, June 17 (UPI) -- The birth rate in the United States increased one percent in 2014 over the previous year, giving analysts reason to believe the nation's economy is growing stronger.
A National Center for Health Statistics study, published Wednesday, found the surge in birth rate among women ages 15 to 44 was the first increase since 2007, widely considered the beginning of the recession. At the same time, the study found the teen birthrate dropped by nine percent, a record low.

I'm sure it has something to do with global warming, or immigration reform, or the prime rate, or something.
Because, you know, Malthus.

Oh God! to hear the Insect on 

the leaf pronouncing on the 

too much life among his hungry 

brothers in the dust!

But wait, the teen birthrate dropped, because... of what?during the recession girls decided that since their employment prospects were dim they might as well get pregnant, but now...?
I am confused.

And where are we vis a vis replacement rate? that's when fertility is at about 2.1 %, isn't it?

For every 1,000 women of childbearing years in 2014, there were 62.9 births up from 62.5 in 2013, the report said. The nation's total fertility rate -- a measure of how many children each woman is likely to have over her lifetime -- rose to 1.862 children from 1.858.

Hmm...