Cost of loving crisis: Have rising expenses made single Americans less likely to date?

One of the less obvious byproducts of a cost of living crisis may be its impact on people who can’t afford to split bills and grocery costs. New YouGov data shows that two in five single Americans believe the cost of living crisis has had a greater impact on them compared to their friends who are in romantic relationships (39%); just one in ten (10%) say it has had a lesser impact.

And the effect of this isn’t localized to groceries and bills. Our data indicates that, overall, nearly two in five single Americans also say they are less likely to go out on dates as a result of the rising cost of living (37%).

Along gender lines, 34% of single men and 39% of single women say they are less likely to meet prospective romantic partners, with just 16% of men and 13% of women saying they are more likely.

And if we are entering something of a romantic recession, there’s evidence to suggest that men will be disproportionately affected by it. Among single Americans, 36% of men say they are looking for a romantic partner – but half as many women (18%) say the same.

Methodology

YouGov Surveys: Serviced provide quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online on 27-28 March 2023, with a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults in the US (aged 21+ years), using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, race, gender, and education to be representative of all adults in MARKET (21 years or older), and reflect the latest American Community Survey population estimates. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Serviced. 

Make smarter business decisions with better intelligence. Understand exactly what your audience is thinking by leveraging our panel of 20 million+ members. Speak with us today.