However, single-parent households, most of whom reported 2015 income levels in the lower-third of the U.S. income distribution, paid child-rearing expenses almost identical to two-parent households reporting similar incomes.
For the report, the USDA analyzed data from the 2011-15 Consumer Expenditure Survey, which is administered by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor. The USDA considers housing, food, transportation, clothing, health care, educational, child care, entertainment and personal care expenses in its calculcations.
The Consumer Expenditure Survey was based on a sample of 23,297 married households and 7,030 single-parent households. The USDA has been compiling the annual report since 1960.