Group 1 - Americans are expected to spend a record $29.1 billion this Valentine's Day, with the average shopper spending nearly $200 on gifts [1][2] - The average budget for gifts has increased to $199.78, up from $188.81 last year, indicating a growing willingness to spend among consumers [2] - The spending on Valentine's Day is projected to surpass the previous record of $27.5 billion set in 2025, reflecting a trend of increased consumer expenditure [2][4] Group 2 - The most popular gifts include candy, flowers, greeting cards, an evening out, and jewelry, with jewelry expected to see the highest spending at $7 billion [3] - Online shopping remains the top destination for Valentine's Day purchases, followed by department stores, discount stores, and specialty stores [3] - This increase in spending follows a resilient 2025 holiday shopping season, where retail spending rose 4.2% year-over-year despite economic uncertainties [4]