U.S. population growth falls to record low

The U.S. population grew by 0.1% in the year that ended July 1, the slowest rate since the nation's founding, according to Census Bureau estimates released Tuesday.

Why it matters: The bureau said the "slow rate of growth can be attributed to decreased net international migration, decreased fertility, and increased mortality due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic."

By the numbers: The bureau estimates that the population grew by 392,665 people between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021.

The nation's growth was caused by a natural increase (the number of excess births over...