Valentine’s Day Gifts Get More Expensive

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ICYMI: Valentine's Day Will Be More Expensive This Year

In case you missed it, Valentine's Day will likely cost you more this year, thanks to rising inflation, supply chain issues, and more.

The Balance took a look at the impact of inflation on the holiday and, unfortunately, love will cost a pretty penny: chocolate is 9% more expensive, while diamonds are up 15% since last year. The price for a dozen roses has also jumped, now costing over 54% more than last year's holiday.

Some consumers might try to spare their wallets by celebrating at home, making a romantic meal themselves. But unfortunately, that isn't going to help, with filet mignon up a whopping 63%.

But even with the higher costs, consumers still plan to spend big. The National Retail Federation expects that shoppers will shell out just under $24 billion this Valentine's Day, the second-highest year on record.

- Kristin

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Off the Charts

Since the pandemic hit, the real estate market hasn't been able to keep up with the demand, and record low numbers of homes for sale have pushed prices relentlessly higher. That means the number of homes that are affordable on a middle-class income has shrunk dramatically, putting homeownership out of reach for many Black families, according to an analysis by the National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com.

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