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<\/p>\nThe war in Iran is pushing up the cost of living in the United Kingdom, but it is also driving up the \u2018cost of dying\u2019 as higher gas prices feed through to funerals.<\/p>\n
A report has found the average cost of a funeral in Britain is running ahead of inflation, with the war seemingly partly to blame as it has pushed up the price of gas used in crematoriums.<\/p>\n
The average traditional funeral now costs \u00a34 623 (about N$104 000), which is up 1.3% since January, according to the study of more than 270 funeral directors across England, Scotland and Wales.<\/p>\n
This is estimated to be well above the rate of inflation for the same period, funeral provider Pure Cremation, which published the research, says.<\/p>\n
The data shows the cost of a cremation funeral \u201chas risen more sharply than a burial funeral\u201d, which the study says was \u201clikely [to be] linked to the rising cost of fuel as a result of the Iran war\u201d.<\/p>\n
The average cremation is now \u00a34 293 (about N$96 000) \u2013 up 1.4% on January\u2019s figure. Meanwhile, the average burial is up by 1% to \u00a36 129 (about N$138 000).<\/p>\n
The Bank of England says between December 2025 and February this year (the most recent month available), UK prices increased by 0.1% overall. Meanwhile, the most recent official data showed annual UK inflation running at 3%.<\/p>\n
Most cremators in the UK are fuelled using gas \u2013 either natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).<\/p>\n
However, there are a small number of electric cremators, and the government recently said more were expected to be installed in the next few years.<\/p>\n
Global gas prices have soared in the past few weeks as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. In some countries, such as India, fuel shortages resulting from the war have meant gas-fired cremations have been halted in some areas.<\/p>\n
Pure Cremation\u2019s research found that while the overall average increase in funeral costs between January and late March was 1.3%, this disguised regional variations. In London, the average figure increased by almost 2%, or \u00a3116 (about N$2 600).<\/p>\n
In Scotland, the increase was just over 2%.<\/p>\n
The most popular type of funeral now is an attended cremation \u2013 these made up 53% of the total last year, according to the insurer SunLife.<\/p>\n
However, \u2018direct cremations\u2019 have grown in popularity since the pandemic and now make up more than a fifth of all funerals. This is a cheaper, no-frills option with, typically, no service \u2013 so no mourners, flowers, limos or hymns \u2013 leaving families free to organise a more personal sendoff later.<\/p>\n
That leaves burials with a 26% share of the market.<\/p>\n
Pure Cremation\u2019s study is described as \u201cthe biggest ever study of funeral costs across Great Britain\u201d.<\/p>\n
It says a traditional funeral includes the funeral director\u2019s fees, the cost of the burial and plot or crematorium fees, plus other costs \u2013 dependent on the funeral type \u2013 such as an additional limousine, a celebrant, embalming and returning the ashes. \u2013 The Guardian<\/p>\n
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