Percentage of small businesses surveyed that are cashless, according to a Visa study cited by the Merchants Payment Coalition: 18
Percentage that expect to accept only digital payments, such as cards or mobile payments, in the next two years: 41
Percentage that anticipate doing so in the next 10 years: 64
Source: Merchants Payments Coalition.
Projected Valentine's Day spending this year, up from $21.8 billion in 2021, according to the National Retail Federation: $23.9 billion
Percentage of U.S. consumers who plan to celebrate the holiday in 2022: 53
Of those celebrating, percentage who indicate it is important to do so given the current state of the pandemic: 76
Source: NRF.
Percentage of Americans in a long-distance relationship who cited work as the reason their relationship was long-distance, according to a survey by The SexualAlpha: 40
Percentage who claimed "study," or separation due to educational pursuits, as the cause: 31
Source: The SexualAlpha.
Though the classic dinner and movie night still ranks high for both moms and dads, percentage who say they now prefer date nights in, according to a survey by Zulily: 36
Percentage of parents who say they spend between $100 and $250 for Valentine's Day, while the "sweet spot" for single parents is under $100: 56
Percentage of parents who would prefer that money to be spent on a thoughtful date night, compared to 25% who'd prefer a physical gift: 35
Source: Zulily.
Percentage of women who report they had thought about leaving their jobs or downshifting their careers in 2021, according to a recent survey by Leanin.org and McKinsey & Co.: 33
Percentage of men who said the same: 25
Source: Leanin.org and McKinsey & Co.
Percentage of American homeowners who experienced unexpected home equity gains in 2021, according to Angi's annual State of Home Spending Report: 49
Percentage increase in the share of households shifting commuting budgets into their homes (up from 33% in 2020): 40
Ranks of COVID-19 disruptions and items being too expensive on the list of the top two reasons for uncompleted projects: 1, 2
Source: Angi.
Century that a Roman priest named Valentine is rumored to have secretly married soldiers in spite of the practice being outlawed by Emperor Claudius I, according to research by Petal Republic: 3rd
Date that Valentine was executed, becoming a martyr and a saint in the eyes of the Catholic Church: February 14, 269 A.D.
Year that Roman Pope Gelasius the First declared that the 14th of February should be celebrated as St. Valentine's Day: 496 A.D.
Source: Petal Republic.
Percentage of college students who say their chosen field is more "realistic" than "idealistic," according to a survey by BestColleges: 68
Percentage of college students who say their chosen path will help make their dreams a reality: 74
Source: BestColleges.
Percentage of people who would rather get shot by Cupid's arrow than the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a survey by WalletHub: 50
Number of times that men are more likely than women to think a Valentine's Day gift is worth going into credit card debt: 2
Percentage of people who wouldn't marry someone with bad credit: 47
Percentage who say irresponsible spending is a bigger turnoff than bad breath: 44
Source: WalletHub.
Idle Thought
"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." -- Edgar Allan Poe