A new report released today based on more than 99 percent of U.S. birth records found 3.788 million births in the U.S. last year. It was the fourth year the number of births has fallen, the lowest since 1986 and a surprise to some experts given the improving economy.

The fertility rate of 1.7 births per U.S. woman also fell 2 percent, meaning the current generation isn’t making enough babies to replace itself.

Locally, however, births are bustling along pretty consistently. Kim Anderson of Kootenai Health provided The Press with statistics of the last 10 years’ births at the region’s hospital. 2018: 1,815

2017: 1,830

2016: 1,704

2015: 1,766

2014: 1,693

2013: 1,615

2012: 1,635

2011: 1,396

2010: 1,657

2009: 1,686