Valentines Day Spending

I found this interesting- the average person will spend $123 dollars and total spending will be over $17 billion for Valentines Day! And even more telling: males spend nearly DOUBLE what females spend...hmmm

NEW YORK (AP) -- Unlike housing prices and interest rates, Cupid's costs are expected to go up in 2008.

According to a study issued Monday by the National Retail Federation (NRF), the average consumer plans to spend $122.98 on Valentine's Day, up from $119.67 in 2007. Total retail spending for the Feb. 14 holiday is expected to reach $17.02 billion.

Of the 61 percent of consumers who plan on celebrating Valentine's Day this year, the NRF said nine of ten will spend the most on their significant others or spouses. But other loved ones will not go forgotten: six in ten plan to buy something for their family members, and two in ten said they would send a gift to friends.

This year, over 48% of love birds plan to celebrate the day by taking their significant others for a special night out, up from 45% in 2007, the NRF said.

Men will outspend women this year, spending an average of $163.37 on gifts and cards, compared to an average of $84.72 spent by women, according to the NRF