It seems everyone wants to know how best to select a spouse or long-term partner so as to avoid a break-up down the road. New information suggests that credit scores can be a predictor of whether a relationship will survive.

Two Federal Reserve economists have examined the individual credit scores of millions of couples. Their preliminary results show that the couples with closer scores have fewer break-ups.

Vastly differing credit scores likely reflect differing attitudes toward credit management, money, savings and the like. Couples who differ on these key financial aspects of a relationship are less likely to stay together than those who for the most part agree.

So maybe the time has come to ask for a credit score before tying the knot.