Valentine's Spending Comes Up Roses: 24 Stats and Facts

Americans shelled out nearly $19 billion in 2015. "TraditionalValentine's Day gifts are always the lead for widespread retail sales this time of year," stated Brent Shelton, FatWallet online shopping expert. "More recently though, we're seeing a big marketing push for smart tech as Valentine's gifts, especially wearables, which should increase spending in excess of $20 billion in 2016."

24 Fun Facts for Valentine's Day Spending (see full infographic):

1. Half of Americans will buy candy to the tune of $1.7 million
2. More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold
3. 48% of women expect to receive chocolates as a Valentine's gift
4. Valentine's Day ranks #1 for fresh flower purchases in the US
5. 20% of all flower transactions happen during Valentine's
6. 1 in 4 Valentine's shoppers will buy flowers, half are bought for spouses
7. 250 million roses get produced for Valentine's Day
8. 40% of Valentine's flower purchases are red roses
9. Half buy greeting cards to the tune of more than 180 million
10. Valentine's ranks a far second to Christmas card sales (1.5 billion)
11. 85% of Valentine's cards are purchased by women
12. About 1/3 will do a Valentine's dinner and/or a movie
13. About 1 in 5 buy jewelry as Valentine's gifts
14. Almost 9% of all diamond jewelry is sold as Valentine's gifts
15. 2 to 1, men outspend women for Valentine's
16. More than 1/4 will shop online for Valentine's gifts, 1/3 of those from tablets
17. Valentine's shoppers spend an average of 30% more online
18. About 1 in 5 will buy for their pets
19. Almost half of marriage proposals happen on Valentine's Day
20. Almost 1/3 of Valentine's shoppers procrastinate
21. 40% of procrastinators believe it's too late to find a deal after Feb. 13
22. 38% want smartphones as a Valentine's gift
23. 1/2 of women that don't receive a gift would end their relationship
24. Tucson, AZ spending increases 68% during Feb. Valentine's Day sales

Data was aggregated from published surveys and reports by FatWallet.com. Data resources include: statisticbrain.com, aboutflowers.com, AMEX, EdahnGolan, Greeting Cards Association, Hallmark, Cardlytics, momentology.com, Ebates, Inc., Georgetown Institute for Consumer Research and National Retail Federation.