Couples ‘putting off divorce due to cost of living crisis’ in England and Wales
Lawyers say financial pressures are fuelling ONS figures that show fewer divorces after longer periods of marriage Couples are putting off divorce because of the cost of living crisis, lawyers have said, after figures showing the average length of a marriage ending in divorce in England and Wales reached a record high last year. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) released figures on Wednesday showing that the average marriage ending in divorce lasted for 13 years in 2025.
This is the longest since records began in 1963 and up from a record low of 8.9 years in 1985.
Read in depth: Business
Bank of England raises interest rate to 4%: what it means for borrowers and savers
The quarter-point increase is the first in more than three years. Tracker borrowers face higher payments, while changes for variable mortgages and savings depend on providers.
Poundland owner commits to prioritising jobs in rescue talks
Gordon Brothers met Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds on 4 November and said it would prioritise bids protecting workers and stores, as suppliers face significant risks.
What this story rests on
1 source from 1 organisation: 1 newspaper or magazine.
- 1The GuardianThe Guardian · theguardian.comNewspaper or magazine
Source headline and summary supplied via NewsData.io. First collected by NewsJaws on 2026-09-24. This is an automated news brief, not original NewsJaws reporting. Dates reflect the source publication. Feed delays may apply.
Researched and drafted with AI tools from these sources, then checked against them paragraph by paragraph before publication. How we work · Everyone we cite · Report an error
More from Business
Singapore Airlines plans S$2bn cabin overhaul from 2027
Oil falls sharply for the week, but inflation and growth worries persist
Qantas plans 4% domestic capacity cut as fuel costs rise
