Today is St. Patrick’s Day, and to say people are feeling a little extra festive would be an understatement. More people are celebrating than ever before, and lucky for retailers, people aren’t just wearing green, they’re spending it, too—though we can’t take credit for that line.
The National Retail Federation has been conducting its annual St. Patrick’s Day survey for more than a decade to analyze how consumers plan to spend for and celebrate during the holiday. This year? 61% of consumers plan to celebrate, up from 54% in 2022 and the highest in the history of the survey.
Consumers Worth Their Weight in Gold
Of course, with more celebration comes more spending, and consumers plan to spend a total of $6.9 billion—$1 billion more than last year—or an average of almost $44 per person.
For as long as NRF has tracked the holiday, men have spent substantially more than women on today’s festivities, and this year is no different. This year, they’re spending $48.71, almost $10 more than women’s $39.15.
Although younger consumers are the likeliest to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, NRF found that celebration plans among those 35 and up are on the rise, and perhaps especially those with children.
In fact, 74% of consumers with children celebrate, compared to 54% of consumers without. While those without children buy the most food, consumers with kids exceed those without in every other category and spend significantly more on apparel, accessories, decorations and candy.
