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Home Page > News > Families Cut Extras as Funeral Costs Rise

Families Cut Extras as Funeral Costs Rise

Author: 8/2/11
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The average funeral cost in the UK fell last year as bereaved families cut optional extras such as limousines and flowers, according to a new survey which also warns that many struggle to cover all the expenses.  Figures published by Sun Life Direct over 50 life insurance on http://www.sunlifedirect.co.uk/life-cover/guaranteed-over-50-plan show that the average cost of arranging a funeral in 2010 was £6,801 – a fall of 4.2% or £297 less than it was in 2009. This was because discretionary costs fell from an average of £2,156 in 2009 to £1,745 in 2010 – the first fall since the company started annual surveys in 2004.

But the overall decrease masks a small rise (4.5%) in the costs of the non-discretionary costs, pushing the basic cost of a funeral up to £2,857. Doctors' fees, funeral directors' costs and an increase in burial and cremation costs have all risen. The survey reveals cremation costs have risen by 5.4% and burial costs 7%, making a burial £800 more expensive, on average, than cremation. Most funerals in the UK (80%) are cremations – at an average cost of £2,546 – with burials costing £3,168. There are substantial regional variations, with the cheapest being north west England at £2,745 up to £4,772 in London.

The survey interviewed 1,514 people, mainly British adults, responsible for planning both a funeral and the administration of an estate within the past five years see http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/feb/08/families-cutting-funeral-costs 
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