British singletons topped the European list for the average amount spent on dates last year as an estimated £5billion was shelled out on dating across the country.
The amount spent on dating in 2015 rose by a fifth from the previous year, according to an analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research.
The research, for website Match.com, found the average cost of a date is now £127 for both people, including clothing, gifts, cosmetics, trips to the hairdressers and contraceptives.
The biggest chunk of the average spend on a date goes towards entertainment, restaurants and pubs - with the typical expense of this put at £69 between both people.
How the average cost of a date in the UK adds up
- Transport, £10.26
- Entertainment, restaurants, bars and pubs, £69.26
- Gifts, £6.41
- Hairdressers, £7.70
- Cosmetics, £5.13
- Clothes, £20.52
- Contraceptives, £2.57
- Eating in, £5.13
In contrast to the average £127 cost of going on a date in the UK, the typical cost of a Dutch date is £49, while one in Germany is £40, the report found.
An estimated one in three (33%) British singles is now actively dating, compared with 23% a year ago, according to the findings, which used economic analysis as well as two surveys of more than 8,000 active daters across European countries including the UK.
Karl Gregory, managing director Northern Europe, Match, said the figures show the growing importance of dating to the economy.
He said: "Brits spend almost double their European counterparts on dates, which is a great thing for singles and for UK PLC."
Read More
MORE ABOUT