FUNERAL INDUSTRY FEELING PINCH OF RECESSION

Amid an ongoing recession, those in the funeral industry say cost-conscious consumers are facing tough decisions when honoring loved ones – price-checking, skipping limos in favor of personal vehicles and forgoing discretionary items such as catering, extravagant flowers or long obituary notices. Receptions and even services are being held in community centers, or homes. “Everyone seems to think that funeral service is ‘recession-proof’ but nothing could be further from the truth,” said Jessica Koth of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). “More people are shopping around as a consequence of the economy,” said Michelle Bailey of Seattle’s Memorial Gallery. Not everyone however is seeing such thriftiness. Donna Wagner, Seattle rep. for Service Corp. International said that while items such as flowers have seen a slight dip, not much has change otherwise. However, he does see people spending less on headstones, which can range from about $300 to $750 for individual markers depending on size and shade.

Source: The Seattle Times