On Valentine’s Day we spend a lot to shower our loved ones with gifts of love and passion. And by loved ones, it is not limited to our two-legged lovers – we also love our four-legged friends. People love their pets. I mean, they REALLY love their pets – and spend lots to show Fido and Kitty how much they are loved. How much you might ask? Check out these numbers for Valentine’s Day spending brought to us by the National Retail Federation, UPS, and American Express.
- $4.4 billion on jewelry – diamonds, gold, and silver
- $1.9 billion on flowers
- $1.6 billion on candy
- $1.5 billion on gift cards
On average, U.S. consumers spent roughly $130.97 on candy, cards, gifts, and more this year. The average woman spent $88.78, less than half of the $175.61 men spent on jewelry, flowers, and romantic dinners.
Wait – what about spending on our furry friends? There was an estimated $815 million spent on pets this Valentine’s Day. What did you buy your favorite furry friend?
Group Activities and Discussion Questions:
- Poll students on Valentine’s Day spending? What did they buy and how much did they spend on their loved ones?
- Next, ask students how many have pets in their families? How many have pets where they live now?
- On average, how much do students spend on their pets?
- Have they ever bought a gift for their pet? What was it? How much did they spend?
- View Amazon’s pet store site: www.wag.com.
Source: Ad Age Daily, 2/14/13
