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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 sweets, flowers, stationery, jewelry, and other items, 2012
Item
Average 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.
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 February 06, 2025).
United States Department of Labor
