Andrea Hammel, owner of Peterman’s Flower Shop in Juniata assembles an arrangement of roses.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Flowers, jewelry and candy — including chocolate covered fruit — remain popular as Valentine’s Day gifts, as does dining out, local business owners said.
And despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they don’t expect to see a drop in sales.
In fact, the opposite is expected as the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics predicts Valentine’s Day spending to reach $23.9 billion this year, up from $21.8 billion in 2021, and the second-highest year on record.
“Following the historic level of consumer spending over the winter holidays, it appears that the trend will continue into 2022,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a statement. “Valentine’s Day is a special occasion for many…
