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Average annual expenditures on sweets, flowers, stationery, jewelry, and other items in 2012

February 14, 2014

February 14, widely known as Valentine’s Day, marks the occasion when many people exchange cards, candies, and flowers. Others may bake sweets and treats for a spouse, friends or colleagues. In 2012, for all consumers, average annual expenditures on sugars and other sweets (including candy) was $147. Consumers spent much less on baking needs and miscellaneous products ($25) and bakery items like cakes and cupcakes ($38) in 2012.

Average annual expenditures on flowers, sweets, stationery, jewelry, and other items, 2012
Average annual expenditures on sweets, flowers, stationery, jewelry, and other items, 2012
ItemAverage annual expenditures

Sugar and other sweets (including candy)

$146.77

Wine at home

102.62

Jewelry

94.38

Stationery, stationery supplies, giftwrap

75.07

Postage

57.44

Indoor plants, fresh flowers

53.57

Cakes and cupcakes

37.94

Wine at full service restaurants

32.33

Baking needs and miscellaneous products

24.95

Delivery services

3.43

Consumers spent an average of $54 on flowers in 2012; these are one of the most popular items sent and received on Valentine’s Day. Annual expenditures on jewelry—another item synonymous with gifting and holidays—totaled $94 in 2012. 

Some people may associate Valentine's Day with restaurants and dining out. In 2012, consumers spent $721 (not in chart) on dinner at full service restaurants. Those who chose to drink wine spent $32 on wine at full service restaurants, compared to $103 spent on wine at home.

These data come from the Consumer Expenditure Survey. To learn more, see "Consumer Expenditures — 2012" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL-13-1833. Consumer units include families, single persons living alone or sharing a household with others but who are financially independent, or two or more persons living together who share expenses.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Average annual expenditures on sweets, flowers, stationery, jewelry, and other items in 2012 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2014/ted_20140214.htm (visited March 28, 2024).

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