031774 ncr Birth rate still declines

WASHINGTON ' Monsignor James McHugh, director of the Family Life Division of the U.S. Catholic Conference, said the present economic situation tends to distract "people from childbearing and often treats the child as an economic burden without any reference to the contributions that a child makes to the lives of its parents, family and society at large."

Whatever the explanation one fact was certain, the birth rate in the U.S. continued its downward spiral in 1973 and shows no signs of reversing itself.

 The number of children necessary to keep a population stable, so that it neither increases or decreases, is 2.1 children. But in 1973, the number declined to 1.9, below the rate necessary to prevent a decline.

The National Center for Health Statistics says the birth rate and the more precise fertility rate are now at their lowest points since the government -began keeping demographic figures.

In 1957 the fertility rate was 1219. Last year it was 69.3. That was the lowest in the history of the country, lower than in the heart of the depression when it reached 75.8, the previous low.

Experts said they had expected an upturn in the fertility rate. But this has not only happened but there has been a decline in the number of infants born. With the children of the post-war baby boom reaching maturity, it was expected there would be at least a rise in the number of births. But experts noted instead there are less births than any year since 1945.