Dinner out, a dozen roses, some candy and a card. It’s the day when lovers show their love, and there are numbers to prove it. Thanks to the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Retail Federation and other sources, here’s a look at Valentine’s Day in America.
$126.03: The average amount people celebrating Valentine’s Day will spend.
$17.6 billion: The total expected to be spent.
8.5 percent: Increase in spending over 2011.
$74.12: Average amount spent on a spouse/sweetheart.
$25.25: Average amount spent on children, parents or other family members.
$4.52: Average spent on pets.
$168.74: Amount spent by the average male.
$85.76: By the average female.
18.9 percent: Will buy jewelry.
50.5 percent: Will buy candy.
36 percent: Will buy flowers.
$4.1 billion: Will be spent on jewelry.
$3.5 billion: Will be spent on a nice night out.
1,177: Number of U.S. manufacturers of chocolate in 2009.
$12.6 billion: Value of chocolate and cocoa products shipped in 2009.
24.7 pounds: Per capita consumption of candy in 2010.
$375 million: Combined wholesale value of domestically grown cut flowers in 2010.
$17 million: Wholesale value of domestically grown roses in 2010.
$195: Price of the giant heart-shaped box of candy (8.5 pounds) at Tacoma’s Johnson Candy Co.
$4.50: Price of a large double-chocolate truffle at Affairs Chocolate & Desserts in University Place.
24,973: Number of jewelry stores in 2009.
5,800: Average number of marriages performed daily in 2009.
28.7 and 26.5: Median age for first marriages in 2011 for men and women respectively.
53.1 percent: In 2011, the overall number of adults who lived within a marriage.
69 percent: Percentage of people 16 and over who had been married at some point in their lives.
6.2 percent: Currently married women who had been married for at least 50 years.
8 years: Median length of first marriages that end in divorce.
3.8 and 3.7: Years between divorce and second marriage for men and women, respectively.
2: Towns named Valentine (in Nebraska and Texas).
1: Town named Darling (Minnesota).
C.R. Roberts: 253-597-8535
c.r.roberts@thenewstribune.com
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