Love & Money – Valentines Day in the United States

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about love, it’s also about money. Indeed, few countries come close to matching the United States in terms of Valentine’s Day expenditure. Total average spending amounts to a whopping $18.6 billion every year. Of this, $9.67 billion is shelled out on meals, $2.89 billion on candy and $2.35 billion on romantic getaways.

On an individual basis, people spend an average of $73.75 on their significant other while men spend far more than women. Average Valentine’s Day expenditure amounts to $175.61 for men and $88.78 for women. Surprisingly, romantic partners aren’t the only ones on the gift list – Americans spend $367 million on Valentine’s Day gifts for their pets every year.