Economic factor Valentine’s Day: When roses are scarce and expensive

Can you buy love? The Germans seem to think that, the results of a current survey on Valentine’s Day suggest that in 2025 people in Germany are willing to spend more money on gifts than in previous years.

According to the survey of the IFH trade research institute on behalf of the Germany (HDE) trade association (HDE), consumers plan to spend a total of around 1.3 billion euros. For comparison: In 2020, the expenses were only around one billion euros, according to a survey at the time.

Above all, the increase in expenses is due to the fact that more and more people want to make their loved ones happy on the occasion of Valentine’s Day. Around 28 percent plan to buy gifts, while in 2020 it was only about 17 percent.

However, according to a current survey by the YouGov opinion research institute, Valentine’s Day is not particularly important to many people. For 41 percent, it has no meaning at all, very or less for a further 40 percent. The day is very important for only 15 percent.

If Valentine’s Day is important, the partner surprises with gifts-with roses, candlelight dinners or kitchen appliance. Some gifts are more popular than others, as a survey by Statista and Yougov from 2020 shows.

Men and women have a similar opinion about what good and less successful gifts are. Both genders agree that the classic Valentine’s Day gifts are well received: 82 percent of men and 85 percent of women rate flowers than a good or rather good gifts. The restaurant visit is in second place. Pralines, sweets and perfume are also very popular.

The least men and women are happy about vouchers, cosmetics and care products as well as self -made. The biggest difference between the sexes: women seem to be more happy about all categories. Self -made, for example, 75 percent of the women surveyed consider a good gift, while only 60 percent of the men surveyed are of the opinion.

A total of 33 percent of those surveyed state that they want to give their partner. Four percent plan to pay their friends a little, three percent even want to give their parents. The majority of respondents, namely 59 percent, do not intend to give someone on Valentine’s Day.

According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the prices for the popular and classic Valentins gifts have been increasingly expensive last year. The prices for pralines 2024 increased by 5.8 percent compared to 2023. 7.4 percent more had to be paid for food and drinks in restaurants, cafes, bars and the like.

Even those who prefer to give away flowers had to spend more in the past year: the prices for cut flowers rose by 2.7 percent compared to 2023. For comparison: Consumer prices overall increased by 2.2 percent in the same period.

In the medium -term comparison, classic valentine gifts have also been more expensive according to Destatis: In 2024, consumers had to pay 31.3 percent more in 2024 than in 2020. More, prices for chocolates increased by 20.3 percent. Consumer prices overall increased by 19.3 percent in the same period.

Florists particularly benefit as a provider of flowers on Valentine’s Day. Your sales are increasing significantly these days. “In the week before Valentine’s Day, around twice as many flowers and ornamental plants are sold as in a normal week,” says Britta Tröster, market analyst at the AMI Agrarmarkt. Men are the most hard -working buyers on this occasion.

According to AMI, Valentine’s Day could lead to slightly increased purchase prices. Due to the global demand, red roses are particularly affected. The noble long -stemmed varieties in particular come from the countries of the global south and have long delivery routes. A good alternative are bouquets with tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other early bloomers.

Despite higher prices, roses are still leaders in sales, around 38 percent of the cutting flowers expenditure is eliminated on rose bouquets. Tulips follow in second place in the popularity ranking. In addition, market analyst Tröster: “The flower onion in the Netherlands was really bad for two years in a row. Tulips will either be completely missing this year or be extremely expensive.”

According to AMI, the consumers spent an average of almost 36 euros for cut flowers in 2024. This focuses primarily on the days before Valentine’s Day. In the overall market for flowers and ornamental plants, cut flowers have a market share of 35 percent (3 billion euros).

The Association of German Florists (FDF) states that on Valentine’s Day 2023 the average purchase per customer in many shops was around 30 euros. “We can pass on increased prices in purchasing and our customers are ready to spend good money for good products,” said the FDF. In addition to cut flowers, ready -made products would also be bought for Valentine’s Day. Male customers in particular “like to buy as seen” because they have little time to buy in the flower shop.

Valentine’s Day is also important for gastronomy. The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) Hessen sees “one of the more sales of the year for the hospitality” in Valentine’s Day. Hotels would experience a booking increase, especially for romantic short vacation or arrangements with wellness offers.

This year, the shortage of skilled workers could have a negative impact on sales on Valentine’s Day. According to a current analysis of the competence center Skill Security (Kofa) at the Institute of German Economy (IW), numerous chefs and service staff are missing across Germany.

According to the analysis, around 2,300 chefs with completed vocational training are missing nationwide. There is also a deficiency of more than 1,500 service workers.

Felix Holzbeck, economist at the Kofa, writes in his analysis: “For a relaxed Valentine’s Day in this and next year, the following applies: Reserve a table in the restaurant early.” Despite the current defect, the situation had improved slightly compared to the previous year, in 2022 almost 8,800 chefs were still missing.