Death Care Services NAICS 8122

May 30, 2026 - Cremation Growth Continues to Slow: CANA

• The slowing but continued rise in cremation is reshaping the US death care industry, requiring funeral providers to adapt services and business models to a more mature cremation market, according to annual statistics released by the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). The US cremation rate reached 62.8% in 2025, though the average annual growth rate slowed to 1.33% over the past five years from 1.58% in the previous five-year period. CANA notes that cremation demand continues to grow steadily but is entering a deceleration phase as the market matures. The report also found that embalming rates have declined alongside rising cremation adoption. For death care providers, the trend highlights the need to expand cremation-related offerings, strengthen memorial and gathering services, and plan for slower but ongoing shifts in consumer preferences as cremation becomes the dominant form of disposition.
• The “Other Services” category, which includes providers of death services, was one of the strongest-performing segments in the April 2026 ISM Services PMI report, outperforming much of the broader US services industry. While the overall Services PMI registered 53.6%, indicating continued but slowing expansion across the services economy, “Other Services” ranked first among all industries reporting growth and also led growth in new orders. The category also reported increases in business activity, employment, inventories, and supplier delivery delays, signaling stronger operational momentum than many other service industries. However, the sector still faced elevated cost pressures alongside the broader services economy, as the ISM Prices Index remained high at 70.7%. Overall, the data suggests consumer demand for everyday personal and household services remained resilient despite inflation and broader economic uncertainty.

• Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, is preparing to introduce Natural Organic Reduction (NOR), underscoring a broader shift in the US death care services industry toward eco-friendly alternatives, according to a BKReader report. The process converts an unembalmed body into about one cubic yard of soil within four to six weeks using organic materials. The Brooklyn site will be the first cemetery in New York and on the East Coast to offer the service, beginning in 2027. For the industry, NOR reflects growing demand for sustainable options alongside traditional burial and cremation. Adoption remains limited but expanding, with the practice now legalized in multiple US states and offered by select providers. This trend suggests new service line opportunities for cemeteries and funeral providers, though implementation requires regulatory approval, partnerships, and operational investment.
• According to an Axios report, cremation has become the dominant end-of-life choice in the US, reshaping the death care services industry. Data from the National Funeral Directors Association shows that cremations are now twice as common as burials, with cremation rates surpassing burial in 2015 and projected to reach 82% by 2045, while burials fall to 13%. Cost is a major driver: in 2023, a median casketed burial with viewing cost $8,300 versus $2,750 for a direct cremation. Environmental concerns and declining religious affiliation are accelerating the shift. Interest is also rising in alternatives such as alkaline hydrolysis, green burial, and human composting, though availability varies by state. For funeral homes and suppliers, these trends are pressuring traditional burial revenue while increasing demand for lower-cost, environmentally focused services and more personalized, celebration-of-life offerings.