Dear Reader,

Childcare is one of the few household costs that can rise quietly—and still force a loud decision: keep working the same way, or change the plan.

In the most recent inflation data, the price of “day care and preschool” is up 4.7% over the past 12 months, according to the latest CPI release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That matters because childcare isn’t optional for working parents, and there’s no “do-it-later” button for a toddler’s schedule.

At the same time, broader inflation pressures—and uncertainty around the path of rates—continue to shape employers’ willingness to hire, expand hours, or raise wages, as described by Reuters. When job leverage softens, families can’t assume pay increases will keep pace with fast-rising necessities.

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For families, childcare is often the biggest bill after housing—and it arrives during the very years when many households are trying to build emergency savings, pay down debt, and increase retirement contributions.

When childcare costs jump, the “right” choice isn’t always obvious. A second income can look strong on paper but shrink quickly after daycare, commuting, higher taxes, and the hidden costs of a rigid schedule. For many households, the real issue isn’t whether work pays—it’s whether work pays enough to justify the strain.

For employers and the wider economy, this shows up as missed shifts, turnover, and reduced labor availability—especially in jobs that can’t be done from home.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics report puts a number on what parents already feel: daycare inflation is still running ahead of what most budgets can comfortably absorb.

The good news is there are still practical tools families can use. For 2026, the IRS says the dependent care FSA limit increased to $7,500 (or $3,750 for married filing separately) in IRS Publication 15-B. That won’t make childcare cheap—but it can reduce the tax bite and improve the math for working households.

A steady plan beats wishful thinking. Price childcare like you’d price a mortgage: build it into the monthly budget, run a “net paycheck after childcare” calculation, and revisit it before you make career moves. Then use every lawful advantage available—especially employer benefits that lower your taxable income, like the dependent care FSA outlined by the IRS.

Stay steady,
Kenneth Boyd
Author, Finance Writer, Former Investment Advisor & CPA