@asdfjk2kjf:
Toms is slightly misquoting. "Death" is the $11 billion business, not just coffins. That includes funeral homes, funeral preparations, the special escort service many people buy. I've seen headstones go up to seven large ones before (I've buried three grandparents).
And don't forget: plots! The most expensive plot my family ever bought was $13,000, for a hillside that, a long time ago, several of my predecessors were buried in for free (back then it was just a hill, today, its a hill overlooking a scenic river and forest). And then there are those who want to be buried next to ancestors that already have people buried next to them. I know some friends who paid someone to move their deceased so that my friends could stick their dead next to some other old dead relatives.
Heck, even a "cheap" funeral goes for a few thousand dollars once you are done. Cremation isn't much better: those damn urns can cost thousands as well.
Thats why I've always told people: just nail together plywood and set me in there. Make sure to empty out my pockets for change, no one else is going to need it if its down there.