Story of Week: A Valentine Saga

Our “Story of the Week,” not a regular feature of the blog, is by the Mad Shopper herself, Mary Ethridge. It was on page 1 of the business section on Saturday, February 12. You might have guessed, at this time of the year, the headline was “Valentine’s gives glow to retailers.”

Here’s the lead:

What price can you put on love?

Get a load of this: $75-$100 for a dozen red roses, $7.99 for a glittery card and $18.25 for a red thong as big as a rubber band around a piece of broccoli.

Hey, don't forget the gift bag for $3.95 and the accompanying tissue paper at 10 cents a sheet.

Valentine's Day is Monday, if you need reminding, sweetheart.

And while your smitten heart goes pitapat, retailers' registers go ca-ca-ching. It is the third-biggest holiday for retailers and brightens up a traditionally slow period for the industry.

And a little later in the story, she reports:

The survery shows the average consumer plans to spend $97.27 on Valentine's Day, down slightly from $99.24 last year. However, 61.8 percent of consumers plan to celebrate the holiday, up from 59.8 percent a year ago. In all, 2005 Valentine's Day spending is expected to reach $13.19 billion.

And a little later

Nevertheless, consumers still plan to spend the majority of their Valentine's Day budget on their sweetheart, with the average person planning to spend $58.85 of the $97.27 total on their significant other or spouse, the federation said.

Although Valentine's Day spending last year was propelled by young adults, spending this year will be spurred by middle-aged consumers. Consumers aged 45 to 54 will spend $118.11 each this year, more than any other age category and considerably higher than the $88.96 the group spent last year

As usual, If you must read the entire story, click on the headline

Mary Ethridge can be reached at 330-996-3545 or methridge@thebeaconjournal.com