But more significant is the decline in the death rate, or deaths spread across miles of driving — long division that helps smooth out effects of economic cycles.

The rate of admission to hospital is four times higher than in the general population, say the authors, Dr Denise Jamieson from the CDC's division of reproductive health in Atlanta and colleagues.

Thanks largely to BskyB, broadcast revenues grew at a compound annual rate of 29% between the 1991-92 season—just before Division One became the Premier League—and 2007-08.