The High Cost of Death

Big spender or thrifty consumer? That question is confronting all of us in these times of economic strife, even when we are faced with some of the last expenses for a loved one. The average funeral in the United States costs $7,323, according to a Washington Post story on the cost-conscious funeral shoppers; in New York, conspicuous consumption still seems to be in style. Revenue in the American funeral industry will grow 1.2 percent this year, to $20.7 billion, according to a New York Times story.