Some might not feel so lucky that St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday this year, but 55 percent of Americans won’t let a case of the Mondays stand in their way. According to NRF’s St. Patrick’s Day consumer survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, 133 million people will celebrate the Irish holiday this year. Total spending on the day’s festivities is expected to reach $4.8 billion, essentially flat with last year. Although spending on the green holiday is small in comparison with other consumer holidays, it’s still a social event in communities across the country and an important day for the retail industry. Consumers will celebrate their Irish roots or Irish-American culture in a variety of festive ways. The average person will spend $35, increasing traffic for grocery stores, restaurants and stores selling green apparel.
There’s no question it’s a popular holiday for millennials – 77 percent of 18-24 year-olds plan to celebrate and 90 percent of them will wear something green. Those in their 20s and 30s will flock to restaurants and bars with their friends, looking for the best deals on green beverages while dressing in creative green outfits, Irish costumes and festive accessories. Asked how they will celebrate, 45 percent of 25-34 year olds will attend a party at a bar or restaurant; others will attend a private event. But Americans of all ages will look to celebrate in a variety of ways; eight in 10 of those celebrating this year said they will wear green and another one in five will decorate their home or office with St. Patrick's Day decor. You can dig deeper into the data in the Retail Insight Center. But as the Irish say, “there are only two kinds of people in the world. The Irish and those who wish they were.”
How do you plan to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year?
View St. Patrick's Day data in the Retail Insight Center