Singles spend €3,000 on pampering

SINGLETONS are splashing out an average of €3,000 a year on alcohol, gourmet food and pamper products such as grooming and cosmetics.

People who live alone now account for a third of all households in western Europe and have a spending power estimated at €150bn a year, according to a report from independent market analyst Datamonitor.

It says the number of people choosing to live alone is soaring and their profile of being lonely pensioners or students squatting in a garret is no longer accurate.