YOU SINGLE ?

Although the economy has forced many to double up or move in with family and friends, data shows that an even larger number of singles, choose to live alone.
Census data released this week says 31 million households in 2010 consisted of just one person, 4 million more than 2000. According to the new data, singles make up 27% of U.S. households; in several large cities, including New York, San Francisco, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., it’s more than 40%.
For the first time ever, Census found, less than half of all U.S. homes — 48% — were husband-wife households.
In 1950, 22% of Americans were single, and 9% of U.S. households were occupied by people who lived alone.

And in places like Manhattan and San Francisco, more than 40% of all households consisted of just one person, according to the new numbers.

The swelling percentage of single-living people is changing the way cities grow, homes are built and businesses operate. The trend line has been noticed by developers and economic observers in many corners of the country.

MDC says, look out for Toll Brothers and Pulte Group to start marketing smaller luxury abodes instead of those crazy useless oversized McMansions they were building.

Singles account for $1.6 trillion of consumer spending, he says, about 35% of the USA’s total consumer spending.

By the way, singles are primarily women — around 17 million live solo compared with 14 million men — and most are between the ages of 35 and 64.