This paper explains that childcare, like other goods and services, is a
commodity, which is bought and sold in "the market".
The author points out that the increase in the number of women in the workforce, the decline of the extended family located near nuclear families and the high divorce rate are trends, which have increased the demand for
childcare services. The paper relates that planning and
operations issues of childcare companies can be affected by changes in interest, inflation, and unemployment rates, which influence macroeconomic forecasts. Table of Contents Introduction The Product and Services Strategies Used to Increase Revenue The Demand for Services/Market Structures Issues Affecting Consumer Demand and Price Economic Forecast Component Explanation for Economic Forecasts Variations Implications of Forecasts on Planning and Operations Conclusion