2026-19906NoticeWallet

Labor extends childcare cost database—no changes.

Published Date: 9/29/2026

Notice

Summary

The Department of Labor is keeping its National Database of Childcare Prices going strong by extending its data collection without any changes. This means families, childcare providers, and policymakers can keep accessing up-to-date info on childcare costs across the country. If you want to share your thoughts, you’ve got until November 30, 2026, to speak up—no extra costs or hassles involved!

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

National childcare price database stays public

The Department of Labor will continue the National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) and update it using the most recent state Market Rate Surveys. The NDCP (first released in 2022, currently covering years 2008 through 2021) will be made available to the public as a research tool to understand county-level childcare prices and changes over time.

States submit existing market-rate survey data

DOL requests states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to submit their most recent Market Rate Survey data (collected in three-year cycles) for inclusion in the NDCP. The affected public is State, Local, and Tribal Governments: 52 respondents, one response each, with an average burden of 2 hours per response and total estimated burden of 104 hours.

Data harmonization and confidentiality protections

DOL will harmonize child-care price measures across jurisdictions and combine them with county-level American Community Survey characteristics; it will also evaluate the database and implement disclosure-avoidance techniques in counties with small samples to protect respondent confidentiality.

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Key Dates

Published Date
Comments Due
9/29/2026
11/30/2026

Department and Agencies

Department
Independent Agency
Agency
Labor Department
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