(Bloomberg - Repost) --US births dropped to the lowest level in 35 years.

About 3.75 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2019, down 1% from 2018, according to provisional data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control.

The total fertility rate in 2017 was 1,705 births per 1000 women -- well below the level at which a generation can exactly replace itself (2,100 births per 1,000 women). The total fertility rate has been below the replacement since 2007.

"In the long run low fertility might mean the population will grow smaller, but it takes a generation or two," said Philip Cohen, professor at the University of Maryland. "During the pandemic, I would expect pregnancy rates, and then birth rates, to fall as people interact less and postpone making long-term commitments and investments."

"Financial constraints are a factor in the continuing low levels of fertility," according to Ken Johnson, professor at the University of New Hampshire. "In addition, these fertility de...