KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The sour economy means it will not be a sweet Valentine’s day.
According to the National Retail Federation, consumers plan to spend $102.50 on gifts. That is down from $122.98 from last year.
Once you crunch the numbers, it breaks down to the average person shelling out $20 per gift this year.
The study found 58 percent will buy cards, 37 percent will buy jewelry, gift cards and clothing and 35.7 percent will buy flowers.
If you are one of the many people buying gifts, Amy Kraft Marketing Director for The Legends at Village West found 10 gifts for under $20 at the stores in the popular shopping center.
1.) Le Crueset: set of 4 red heart-shaped ramekins ($17.99)
2.) Jockey: suede men's slippers ($8.00)
3.) Cosmetic Company: Estee Lauder Beautiful 3-piece perfume set -
original, love and sheer ($15.75)
4.) Sports Nutz: women's college hats - I'll bring one for MU, KU and K-State ($19.99 each)
5.) Wyldewood Cellars: hand painted "I love you" wine glass ($15) and heart-shaped wine stopper ($5)
6.) Books-A-Million: "1001 Ways to be Romantic" book ($16.95) and edible love notes ($2.99)
7.) Candy Options:
Rocky Mountain: 1lb. Chocolate Covered Strawberries ($18.50)
Palmer's: Truffles $2.50 each (cute brown/pink boxes ($3-$6)
8.) Carter's: toddler boys and girls heart/heart-breaker t-shirts ($5 each); newborn heart sleepers ($8)
9.) Gap Outlet: heart boxers ($10), lace trim camisoles ($7.50), Mini Body Mist ($2.09)
10.) Banana Republic Factory Store: men's organic t-shirt ($9.99) available in cream, yellow, brown and green
Total Valentine’s Day spending is expected to be about $14.7 billion, down 13.6 percent from the $17 billion spent in 2008.
“A bad economy won’t stop Cupid this Valentine’s Day, but it might slow him down,” said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin.
