In 1990, the average American family spent about $3,500 a year on childcare. Today, that number is over $15,000 — and in some cities, it's north of $25,000. Daycare used to be an afterthought on the family budget. Now it's a line item that rivals the mortgage.
This isn't just about daycare getting more expensive. It's about the dollar getting weaker. When you measure childcare costs in real terms — in gold, in hours worked, in purchasing power — the picture changes completely.
In this episode of The Receipt, we break down exactly how much daycare costs have risen, why the CPI doesn't tell the full story, and what it means for families trying to build a future on a currency that loses value every single year.
Topics covered:
- The real cost of daycare: 1990 vs. 2026
- Why wages haven't kept up with childcare inflation
- How the CPI masks the true impact on families
- The hidden tax of currency debasement on working parents
- What happens when you price daycare in sound money
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The Receipt — a podcast by Exit Velocity. We read the bill that inflation left on your kitchen table.
New episodes every Tuesday.
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