Do consumers plan on sticking to their budgets, or are all bets off on a day like Valentine's Day?

Answer: 

1. Candy: 56%
2. Flowers: 40%
3. Greeting cards: 40%
4. An Evening Out: 35%
5. Jewelry: 22%

Questions:

• Do you feel increased pressure to make purchases during holidays? Why or why not?
• Would you rather have a conversation with your loved one(s) about your gift expectations or be surprised? Why?
• What strategies could you use to avoid overspending on holidays like Valentine’s Day?
• Increased demand often makes seasonal goods and services more expensive. Does that impact your spending decisions?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (National Retail Federation): 

"Consumers are expected to spend a record $27.5 billion on Valentine’s Day this year, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The amount is up from last year’s $25.8 billion and slightly above the previous record of $27.4 billion set in 2020. Shoppers plan to spend $188.81 on average on the holiday, up from $185.81 in 2024."

"Over half (56%) of consumers plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, up from 53% in 2024. Men are more likely to celebrate the holiday this year with 55% saying they plan to participate in Valentine’s Day, up from 51% in 2024."

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.

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