We’ve now moved a few days into the month of December.  It’s hard to believe that the plans you put into place for the 2025 Business Year are now coming into the stretch run.  Hopefully, your profit numbers are exceeding what you expected them to be with, not only your wise planning, but your ability to shift and adapt some parameters as events, such as tariffs and continued inflation, came into play during the year.

What happened in 2025 with unexpected events happens to some extent every year.  And, while we don’t know what those unexpected events might be, the more you know what is happening in the world around you, the better you should be to make mid-year manuevers in your planning.

To that end, today’s edition brings you two publications that contain information that we believe could influence your business plans for 2026.

1. Business Conditions and the Federal Reserve Board rate decision coming on December 10 —

The United States Federal Reserve Board will hold its last meeting of the calendar year next week and will have the responsibility of setting the rate for what is called the “Feds Fund Rate” which is the interest rate base that virtually all other consumer and business interest rates are set off of.  Where they set that rate at will make a difference in your adjustable rate bank loans, on what you might pay on credit card interest, and will make a difference on automobile loans and many mortgage loan types.  Clientele of Death Care establishments may have more or less to spend depending on how their individual loans are affected.

And, specific to funeral homes, the rate may make a difference on how much interest is credited to preneed funeral accounts going forward, depending on which insurance company holds your preneed policies.

This recent article from Yahoo Finance will give you some insights on what business conditions the Federal Reserve Board members will be looking at when setting that rate.  Here are a couple of quick statements from that article that may affect business going forward in 2026:

• “The combination of weaker consumption and a sagging job market could boost the odds of a December rate cut”.

• “As layoffs have ticked up, employers are implementing hiring freezes, replacing only people who leave, and adjusting workers’ hours, according to the report. A few firms noted that artificial intelligence replaced entry-level positions or made existing workers productive enough to curb new hiring.”

• “Rising health insurance premiums are also increasing labor costs for employers.”

• “Looking at inflation, tariffs increased costs for retailers and manufacturers. . . . There were multiple reports of profit margins being squeezed or firms facing financial strain from tariffs. Meanwhile, prices declined for certain materials, which firms chalked up to sluggish demand, deferred tariff implementation, or reduced tariff rates.”

• “Looking ahead, businesses expect cost increases to continue, but plans to raise prices in the near term were mixed.”

Related Article —  Consumer Price Index ends Fiscal Year 2025 at 3.01%.  Social Security announces 2.8% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).  United States Congress Joint Economic Committee

2. Thoughts on the Funeral Services Industry from Global Growth Insights–

I found a very interesting dossier on the worldwide funeral industry in a form that appears to be a teaser for purchasing a larger report on the industry from a worldwide perspective in a document entitled “Global Growth Insights“.  And while I cannot vouch for the company, most of the information that I read on the “teaser” seemed to appear correct.  You can access the document here.

Here’s some of the highlights I found from the Global Growth Insights material that co-incides with some of the trends I have noticed and written about with Funeral Director Daily:

Growth of the Industry — “Several structural and demographic factors underpin this growth. Rising global mortality rates, driven by an aging population, have been a major catalyst. By 2030, nearly one in six people worldwide will be aged 60 years or older, contributing significantly to the increasing demand for funeral and pre-need planning services. Additionally, the growing acceptance of cremation — accounting for over 57% of global funerals in 2025 — has encouraged companies to innovate in low-emission cremation technology and biodegradable urn production.”

Technology —  “Another notable transformation is the integration of technology. Over 40% of funeral homes globally now offer digital pre-arrangement, online obituaries, and live-streamed memorials. These services enhance convenience and accessibility, especially for families separated by geography.”

Sustainability —  “(S)ustainability has emerged as a defining trend. The increasing adoption of eco-friendly burials, green cemeteries, and bio-cremation services underscores the industry’s shift toward environmentally conscious practices. The “green funeral” segment alone is projected to grow at over 8% CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) through 2030, reflecting changing consumer values.”

Premium Memorialization —  “The high-end and specialty funeral homes and services segment caters to a premium clientele that seeks exclusivity, personalization, and luxury in memorial arrangements. This niche but rapidly expanding category combines emotional value, heritage preservation, and sophisticated service design. In 2025, the luxury funeral segment accounts for nearly 7.5% of the total global funeral services market, valued at approximately USD 5.9 billion, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% during 2025–2033 — outpacing the broader market’s average growth of 3.39%.  High-end providers focus on creating unique, culturally tailored, and experience-driven memorials. These include private mausoleums, personalized life celebration ceremonies, high-end floral artistry, premium casket materials, and digital heritage archives.”

Here is one other statement pertaining to the United States funeral industry that I found interesting, “The United States represents the largest and most mature segment of the global funeral homes and funeral services industry, accounting for approximately 36% of total global market share in 2025. The market continues to demonstrate steady growth, supported by an aging population, increasing pre-need funeral arrangements, and a rising preference for personalized, eco-friendly, and technology-enabled services.”

News from the world of Death Care:

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

Tampa Bay Welcomes Back the ICCFA Annual Convention & Exposition, April 10-13, 2024: A Premier Gathering for Professional Excellence

STERLING, VA (March 6, 2024) – This year, the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association is returning to Tampa Bay and docks on April 10-13 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street and Tampa Convention Center. Join thousands of deathcare professionals at this convention to expand your knowledge, learn from world-class keynote speakers, participate in educational breakout sessions, visit our expansive exhibit hall for the latest goods and services and connect with deathcare professionals worldwide. Currently, we have 225 exhibiting companies, and they occupy 428 booths within the exhibit hall. Limited booth space is still available. This is a can’t-miss event.

The convention is highlighted by two incredible keynote speakers on Thursday, April 11, at 2:30 p.m. and Friday, April 12, at 9 a.m., respectfully. The 2024 keynote speakers include:

     SHAWN ANCHOR is a New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential. Shawn is a world-leading expert on the connection between happiness and success who has worked with many Fortune 100 companies, including places like the NFL, the Pentagon and the U.S. Treasury. Shawn’s presentation, “Big Potential: How Transforming the Pursuit of Sucess Raises Our Achievement, Happiness, and Well-Being,” will show us that pursuing potential in an interconnected way is how we can achieve our potential in business and education. Shawn will share five strategies for achieving success and applying them to work and home life.

     BRIAN SOLIS is a world-renowned digital anthropologist, futurist, award-winning author and global keynote speaker. Brian has been called “one of the more creative and brilliant business minds of our time” by Forbes. Brian speaks on disruptive trends and technologies and their impacts on business and society. Brian will present “Ignite Moments! How to Become a “Customer Company” in an ever-evolving world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) blurs the lines between physical and digital experiences. Brian will also demonstrate how “ignite moments” deliver personalization, warmth, and connected experiences that people love, remember and share.

The 2024 ICCFA Exposition Hall Grand Opening & Reception will commence on Wednesday, April 10, at 4:15 p.m., inviting all attendees to partake in the festivities and refreshments. The exhibit hall will remain open on Thursday, April 11, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The President’s Banquet, now scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m., ensures that attendees won’t miss out on this significant event. Following the banquet reception, the evening will feature the annual Celebration of Remembrance, recognition of the 2023 Keeping It Personal Award winners and the induction of Fred Lappin, CCE, into the ICCFA Hall of Fame for his outstanding service to the association, the deathcare profession, and the public.

A highlight of the evening will be the ICCFA Presidential transfer, marking the end of Robbie Pape’s term and the introduction of Lee Longino as the incoming President. The night will culminate with comedian Josh Blue, sharing his stand-up routine and off-the-cuff improvisational skills.

The breakout sessions, designed to be a great learning experience to stimulate professional growth, will incorporate sessions on how to lead and develop staff, new cemetery developments in the 21st century, consumer expectations and tips on hiring new staff and retaining top talent. Program details, information on how to exhibit, hotel booking links and registration information are available at iccfa.com/annual.

###Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation, funeral, and memorialization profession. The association is comprised of more than 10,000 members in the cemetery, funeral home, and crematory industries, as well as supplier and related businesses worldwide.