The vast majority of U.S. deaths are followed by a burial, but the trend is toward cremation.
Cremation is especially popular in trend-setting states like California.
Interest in cremation increases with age, education, and income. Based on their surveys of intent and other indicators, CANA projects that 40 percent of U.S. deaths will be handled with a cremation in 2010. One basic advantage is that cremation is inexpensive. Baby boomers' love of self-expression may cause a boom in creative cremations when their time comes.