Divorce down, marriage up in credit crunch

19/09/2008

The credit crunch appears to have had one positive effect - with more and more people getting, and staying, together in the tough financial climate.

Figures cited by Clickdocs show that the divorce rate has dropped to a 26-year low in England and Wales.

Just 11.9 divorces per thousand occurred during 2007 according to official statistics - compared with 12.2 per thousand the year before.

The credit crunch began in the summer, leading to mass withdrawals of cheap loans deals from high street providers and a general economic downturn.

Meanwhile, the marriage industry is weathering the credit crunch well, according to the Retail Bridalwear Association.

Phillip Rathkey, secretary of the group, said that retailers of wedding dresses and other marriage-related items are "reporting good trading".

He added: "They haven't noticed yet that there is any particular recession…many established shops are actually reporting an improvement in trading this year so far."

Figures from You & Your Wedding magazine show that the average cost of a wedding runs to just over £20,000 in the UK. ADNFCR-1819-ID-18788826-ADNFCR