Why aren't people dying? The economy's bad enough to kill anyone but no, there was a sharp drop in the number of deaths in the first quarter of this year and, understandably, the funeral industry wants to know what's going on. However, nobody has an answer although there are suggestions. Some point to a milder flu season, others to better health care and still others to the fact that fewer people are eating out and are making meals at home from scratch. This, they argue, cuts back on the general intake of salt and saturated fat.
Absence of Workplace Stress in the Unemployed
Also, perhaps the absence of workplace stress in the unemployed has something to do with it. The worst has happened and people are still standing so what's to be stressed about? There isn't even the expected feeling of disgrace for losing a job that there might have been once. After all, everyone's in the same boat. There's a weird sense of celebration with the unemployed holding pink slip parties, sharing survival tips and living space, growing their own vegetables and even, in some cities, keeping illegal chickens.
Funeral Industry isn't Worrying
The funeral industry isn't worrying too much yet although revenues have declined and investors may begin getting restless because they believed they were in what is safe haven during a recession. For now, says Melly Alazraki of Daily Finance the four publicly traded death care companies posted increased revenue for each funeral because many are budgeted for from the proceeds of estates and insurance.
This may not continue, however, because there's a move away from traditional funerals in some urban centers. For now, companies like Service Corporation International the largest death provider in the business would just like to know what's going on. "We've never experienced anything like it," Tom Ryan, the company's chief executive, told the Globe and Mail's Richard Blackwood. SCI plans to commission independent research to try to find some answers.
What will all this Non-dying do?
What will all this non-dying do to the death industry if if it keeps up? Toronto's Mount Pleasant Cemetery for one is planning to enlarge the use of its huge new visitation center from the original plan for it to act as a funeral home without embalming facilities, into an event space. They would like to see a few weddings there as well as the odd funeral. Will more funeral chapels follow suit?
 |
