Average cost of a basic funeral has leapt by £140 in one year, says new report
'Vulnerable bereaved people are taking on increased debt; and we predict this problem will worsen'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The average cost of a basic funeral has leapt by £140 in the space of a year, a report has found.
Across the UK, the typical cost is now £3,702, a 3.9 per cent increase compared with 2014, when the average cost was £3,562, the insurer Royal London said.
Cremation costs rose to £3,294 from £3,162 while burial costs increased more gradually, to £4,110 from £3,962 in 2014.
“The rising cost of an average UK funeral is very concerning; it’s outstripped inflation considerably for many years –almost in line with house price rises, which as we know continue to rise rapidly as demand outstrips supply,” Royal London funeral cost expert Simon Cox said.
The figures underscore the growing financial challenges of planning a funeral, with a recent YouGov survey of 2,000 people showing that one in 10 struggled to pay.
“Vulnerable bereaved people are taking on increased debt; and we predict this problem will worsen if steps are not taken to tackle the many, persistent causes driving up the cost of funerals,” Mr Cox added.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments