This Valentine's Day, Americans are spending more, with more men taking to one knee to pop the question. Meanwhile, more women say Cupid's holiday is overrated.
Americans are earmarking an average of $239 per person this year to spend showering their loved ones with gifts and entertainment on Valentine's Day, up from $196 last year, according to new figures from American Express.
Yet, while people are spending more, the number of people spending money on the holiday at all is down to 69 percent, compared to 76 percent last year.
Plus, engagements are up on February 14: 6 million are planning to make or expecting to receive a proposal on February 14, up from 4 million in 2012. The average spent on that ring: $2,410. Unless you're wealthy, then you'll spend an average of $5,658.
Men plan to spend more than women on Valentine's Day, but the report said that women aren't as enthralled with Valentine's Day as you might think. More than 30 percent of women in relationships think it is overrated, while another 34 percent say it's a fun holiday, but not a major occasion. Still, 35 percent of women consider it an important celebration.
More than half of Americans said they'll plan to send a romantic message on Valentine's day via text (29 percent), Facebook (29 percent), email (23 percent), or an eCard (20 percent). Only 7 percent will send a tweet.
The American Express Spending & Saving Tracker research was completed via an online survey among 1,500 US adults between January 29 and February 2, 2013.
