MARCELLUS, N.Y. -- Valentine's Day weekend is here and the rush is on to get that special gift for that special someone. The National Retail Federation estimates the average person celebrating will spend roughly $147 on flowers, jewelry, and candy.
A National Retail Federation survey shows that spending in 2016 is expected to reach a new high -- and it's amazing what people spend on candy.
Here's a look at some of the top things people are spending their money on:
- $1.1 billion will be spent on greeting cards this year.
- About $1.9 billion will be spent on flowers.
- About $4.4 billion will be spent on necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry.
- About 50 percent of consumers in a recent spending survey said they will buy candy.
- A total of $1.7 billion is estimated to be spent.
Chocolate Pizza Company store officials in Marcellus have added staff and say they've been working extra hours to get chocolate pizza, peanut butter wings, and other assortments ready. Items like chocolate roses and other covered candies have been selling extremely well this week.
"It's great to interact with people. We have people that come in all the time and we have our certain people that will come in for Valentine's Day. They come in for Christmas. So, it's great to see them, talk with them, see how they've been and we really felt like we made a connection. And, it's really great to get to know some of these people. We get to talk to them and see how their lives are going," said Chocolate Pizza Company owner Ryan Novak.
Novak says the next few days will be some of the busiest days of the year in his stores and in many candy stores across the country.