Shoppers to Aim High This V-Day

Total spending is expected to reach $18.9 billion, a five-year high, this Valentine’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation.

April 6, 2018

While most (53.2 percent) plan to buy candy, spending a total of $1.7 billion, one in five (21.1 plan) will buy jewelry for a total of $4.8 billion, the highest amount seen since NRF began tracking spending on Valentine’s gifts in 2010.

Additionally 37.8 percent will buy flowers, spending a total of $2.1 billion, and more than one-third (35.1 percent) will spend on plans for a special night out, totaling $3.6 billion. Celebrants will also spend nearly $2 billion on clothing and $1.5 billion on gift cards.

Nine in 10 (91 percent) plan to treat their significant others/spouses to something special for the consumer holiday, while 58.7 percent will buy something for other family members and a record one in five (21.2 percent) will include their pets in their V-Day spending.

Men

will spend nearly double what women plan to spend ($190.53 versus $96.58 on average, respectively.)