In this issue of Math in the News we look at economic data around Valentine's Day purchases. We look at data in tables and graphs and try to account for trends in the data.

1. America’s Candy Crush
Math in the News
Issue 90

2. Valentine’s Day
How do you plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Will you purchase cards, candies, flowers, and
gifts? In this issue we’ll look at economic data
from the National Retail Association
(http://www.nrf.com).

3. Valentine’s Day
The National
Retail
Federation
predicts
Americans
will spend
$17.3 billion
this year for
Valentine’s
Day.

4. Valentine’s Day
Here is how this holiday has fared over the past few
years. (Note: The Data for 2014 is an estimate.)
Total Spent on Valentine's Day ($Billions)
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
16.9
17 14.7 14.1 15.7 17.6 18.6 17.3

5. Valentine’s Day
Here is a graph of the data, which shows a consistent
amount near $17 billion over the past few years.
Valen ne's Day Spending ($Billions)
20
18
18.6
16.9
17.6
17
17.3
15.7
16
14.7
14.1
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014

6. Valentine’s Day
Let’s look at
four key
data points
in more
detail:
• Candy
• Flowers
• Jewelry
• Cards

7. Valentine’s Day
Here is a multiple line graph showing all four data
sets. Let’s look at the individual graphs.
Valentine's Day Spending ($Billions)
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Candy
Flowers
Jewelry
Cards
2010
1.18
1.691
2.952
0.81
2011
1.453
1.706
3.539
1.093
2012
1.512
1.88
4.123
0.966
2013
1.657
1.919
4.404
1.184
2014
1.394
1.936
3.947
1.029

8. Valentine’s Day
Here is the line graph for Candy.
Candy Purchases ($Billions)
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Candy
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
1.18
1.453
1.512
1.657
1.394

9. Valentine’s Day
Here is the line graph for Flowers.
Flower Purchases ($Billions)
2
1.95
1.9
1.85
1.8
1.75
1.7
1.65
1.6
1.55
Flowers
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
1.691
1.706
1.88
1.919
1.936

10. Valentine’s Day
Here is the line graph for Jewelry.
Jewelry Purchases ($Billions)
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Jewelry
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2.952
3.539
4.123
4.404
3.947

11. Valentine’s Day
Here is the line graph for Cards.
Card Purchases ($Billions)
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Cards
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
0.81
1.093
0.966
1.184
1.029

12. Valentine’s Day
Candy, Jewelry, and Cards all show a drop in
spending. But Flowers show an increase.
Valentine's Day Spending ($Billions)
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Candy
Flowers
Jewelry
Cards
2010
1.18
1.691
2.952
0.81
2011
1.453
1.706
3.539
1.093
2012
1.512
1.88
4.123
0.966
2013
1.657
1.919
4.404
1.184
2014
1.394
1.936
3.947
1.029

13. Valentine’s Day
• Why would Flower
purchases show a steady
increase, while the others
showed a decrease?
• Why would Candy sales
show a decline? Why
would people be buying
less candy?
• Why would Jewelry sales
show a decline? What
would this say about the
state of the economy?

14. Valentine’s Day
• Now that you have seen
the data for spending on
Valentine’s Day, is your
anticipated spending
consistent with these
results?
• What factors affect how
much you spend and
what you spend it on?
• Conduct a survey in your
class to see how much
your classmates plan to
spend.