Spiralling debt, soaring inflation and a stalling housing market are hurting Britain's eight million love-seeking singles, according to a dating website.

In just 12 months the love "shopping bill" of UK singletons has dropped by 12 per cent. In 2008 singles will spend £11.5 billion in the pursuit of love and happiness, compared to the £13.1 billion in 2007.

What's more, the cost of love is likely to hurt men far more than women as singles revert back to traditional dating rituals, with the man expected to pay on the first date.

Online dating company PARSHIP.co.uk's Love Index found that singles have decreased their spend by £207 per year.

In 2007 they racked up an all-time high of £1,647 per person – £1,008 on nights out on the pull, £156 on internet dating services, and a further £602 on first dates. However, 2008 has seen the average spend per person drop to £1,440.

At the height of the dating boom last year, singles went on seven dates in a year. 2008 sees a return to more modest dating patterns, with singles clocking up just four dates.

READ MORE
Main news index
Your letters.
Features
More business news
Letters