The chart below shows how the number of marriages in the UK has changed since the Second World War. The red line shows a 10-year moving average (i.e the average number of marriages per year measured over the previous 10 years). Answer the data response questions below.

QUESTIONS

(1) Explain why a moving average is a good way of showing the trend in a long series of data

(2) In which decade did the number of marriages in the UK peak?

(3) The trend of marriage in the UK shows a consistent decline in the number of couples “tieing the knot”. Outline three reasons why this may have occurred

(4) Identify three consumer markets, and a leading business in each, in which demand for goods and services is directly linked to the number of marriages