Saint Valentine 2025 promises to be a celebration of love, but also of the increases. According to the estimates of the National Craft Confederation and of the small and medium enterprise (CNA), the turnover linked to this anniversary will reach the 900 million of euros, confirming the economic importance of the holiday for different sectors.
Italians between dinners, gifts and travel
Thanks to the coincidence with Friday, this year more and more people will take advantage of Valentine’s Day to take a long weekend, with one or two overnight stays. According to the CNA investigation, this trend will generate a turnover of over 300 million euros. The most popular destinations remain the City of art And the mountain resorts, appreciated not only by lovers of winter sports. The thermal destinations follow, while the sea collects a lower share of preferences.
The question is growing for farmhouses, in addition to traditional hotel and extra-hotel structures. More and more couples also choose abroad: Paris dominates the European destinations, while New York It is the most coveted destination outside the continent.
Increase in the sectors traditional
However, inflation does not even spare lovers. The Codacons report significant increases in the prices of the most common gifts: jewels record an increase in 17%, while i chocolates mark a +9%. Even the flowers, a symbol par excellence of Valentine’s Day, suffer a increase of 2.3%.
“It is not better to couples who will decide to spend outside the home on February 14 – explains Codacons – the holiday packages go to an average of 13.5%, international flights of 4.6% (+3.3% national teams), hotels of 3%. For restaurants, the rates rise on average by +3.1%, with the overall expenditure for romantic dinners which will be around 300 million euros, while for flowers and plants prices up on average of 2.3%”.
AND Federconsumatori confirms this trend, highlighting an average increase of 7%in the cost of gifts compared to 2024. In particular, the gift boxes for aesthetic treatments or for the body record a surge of 23%, while the chocolates suffer an increase of 19%. Also the treatments in the Spa and the flowers see an increase of 8%.
The romantic dinner: a timeless classic
Despite the increases, dinner at the restaurant remains an indispensable tradition for many couples. The Italian Federation of Public Exercises (Fipe) Estimates that about 6 million Italians will choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the restaurant, generating a total expenditure of 330 million euros. This translates into an average expenditure of over 50 euros to person.
However, also in this area there are increases: the restaurants of the restaurants rise on average by 3.1% compared to the previous year. The proximity of the holiday at the weekend also promotes the “romantic escapes”, with holiday packages that record a 13.5%increase, international flights increasing by 4.6%and stays in the hotel with an increase of 3%.
Trends and alternatives for 2025
Faced with these increases, many couples are opting for alternative and cheaper solutions. Shared experiences, such as cooking courses, Wine tastings or outdoor activities are gaining popularity. In addition, interest in personalized and do-it-yourself gifts is growing, which add a unique and significant touch without weighing excessively on the wallet.
Another emerging tendency is that of solidarity: more and more couples choose to dedicate the happiness of this day to others, committing themselves in beneficial initiatives, supporting animalistic associations or contributing to educational, health and research programs.
