Valentine's Day is only a few days away and last-minute shoppers are out scrambling to get gifts for their loved ones in order.

While Valentine's Day isn't necessarily a huge holiday for everyone, it's still a big day business-wise for certain industries like candy, greeting cards, jewelry, and of course restaurants.

So just how much are Massachusetts residents spending on Valentine's Day? According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are expected to spend $23.9 billion this year on Valentine's Day between cards, gifts, candy, and an evening out. That's up from the $21.8 billion they spent last year. Valentine's spending in Massachusetts and across the country has been in a slump since it peaked at $27.4 billion right before the pandemic hit in February of 2020.

So let's break that down per Massachusetts shopper. According to BankRate, Men in Massachusetts will spend on average $339 on their partners for Valentine’s Day, while women will only spend about $60. For once, women are paying less for something!

 

KEEP READING: Here are the most popular baby names in every state

Using March 2019 data from the Social Security Administration, Stacker compiled a list of the most popular names in each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., according to their 2018 SSA rankings. The top five boy names and top five girl names are listed for each state, as well as the number of babies born in 2018 with that name. Historically common names like Michael only made the top five in three states, while the less common name Harper ranks in the top five for 22 states.

Curious what names are trending in your home state? Keep reading to see if your name made the top five -- or to find inspiration for naming your baby.

 

50 Most Popular Chain Restaurants in America

YouGov investigated the most popular dining brands in the country, and Stacker compiled the list to give readers context on the findings. Read on to look through America's vast and divergent variety of restaurants—maybe you'll even find a favorite or two.

 

 

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