Love for sale

<style type="text/css"> img.content-image {box-shadow: none;} </style>

Over the last 10 years, the number of Americans celebrating Valentine’s Day has dropped 12 percent. According to the National Retail Federation, 51 percent of consumers will spend money for the holiday. That’s down from 63 percent in 2009. It’s up for debate whether that means people are less romantic these days or can’t afford to buy candy, flowers, cards, fancy dinners or other gifts for their lovers, friends or pets. But not to fear, holiday-economy machine, those who are celebrating are planning on going big, spending $161.96 each on average, for a total of $20.7 billion projected to be spent for V-Day 2019, which would be up $1.1 billion from last year and $6 billion over 2009.