Featured Data Additions: 2026

ANZR/ANZ → Public Finance → Early Childhood Education: Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

Child care subsidy (CCS) statistics for Australia were added to the ANZ and ANZR databases. Series include number of children using approved child care, number of families, number of approved services, and the estimated CCS in Australian dollars. These data are available by state and territory. Quarterly data are sourced from the Department of Education and start in Q4 2012.

Chart: 1,451,860 children from 1,020,930 families were allocated a Customer Reference Number (CRN) by Services Australia in Q3 2025, down 0.13% from Q3 2024. New South Wales had the largest share of children attending approved care, at 31.7% or 460,610 children. Victoria had the largest proportional YoY increase, at 1.03% or 3,700 children.

SURVEYS → Federal Reserve Surveys and Indicators → FRB Chicago → Labor Market Indicators

The Labor Market Indicators data set introduced in September 2025 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago were added to the SURVEYS and USECON databases. These data, updated twice monthly, are designed to provide a more frequent and predictive look at national employment trends. Forecast data include a layoffs and other separations rate, the hiring rate for unemployed workers, and the unemployment rate.

Chart: These December data were released prior to December BLS Employment Situation. At the time, the relative odds of a decrease in the unemployment rate, as predicted by this model, was 47% - with a 28% chance of no change – and 25% odds of an increase. Of the decreases, there was a 26.3% chance of a 0.1% decrease. The official unemployment rate released on January 9th decreased from 4.5% to 4.4%.

BENELUX → Netherlands → Financial → Money, Banking and Credit → Modified Duration of Pension Funds

Modified duration of pension funds statistics for the Netherlands was added to the BENELUX database. Modified duration represents the average time until liabilities are paid, expressed in years, showing how sensitive the fund's total liability value is to a 1% change in interest rates. Detail is available for company pension funds, industry-wide, and other pension funds. These quarterly data are sourced from the Netherlands Central Bank and starts in Q1 2007.

Chart: The modified duration of Dutch pension funds is expected to decrease significantly as they transition from a Defined Benefit to a Defined Contribution system. This shift will cause them to reduce their demand for long-dated bonds. The first major installment is expected on January 1st, when approximately 550 billion euros in assets will be transferred. As a result, yields on 30-year Dutch and German government bond yields have risen to levels not seen since 2011.