ten things tuesday...

Ten random facts about Valentine's Day plus a few more, because I'm a nerd and couldn't cut it down to ten:

- 192 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine’s Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion. (This total excludes packaged kids valentines for classroom exchanges.) (Source: Hallmark research)

- Nearly 60 percent of all Valentine’s Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the observance, making Valentine’s Day a procrastinator’s delight. (Source: Hallmark research)

- 2.2 million marriages take place in the United States annually. That breaks down to more than 6,000 a day.

- 145,800 marriages are performed in Nevada during 2004. So many couples “tie the knot” in the Silver State that it ranked fourth nationally in marriages, even though its total population that year among states was 35th.

- The estimated U.S. median ages at first marriage for women and men are 25.8 and 27.4 respectively, in 2004. The age for women rose 4.7 years in the last three decades. The age for men at first marriage is up 4.3 years.

- 1,271 locations produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2003. These establishments employed 43,379 people. California led the nation in the number of such establishments (with 146) followed by Pennsylvania (with 120).

- 519 locations produced nonchocolate confectionary products in 2003. These establishments employed 23,343 people.

- The total value of shipments in 2003 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products was $13.5 billion. Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was a $5.5 billion industry.

- 3,523 Number of confectionery and nut stores in the United States in 2003. Often referred to as candy stores, they are among the best sources of sweets for Valentine’s Day.

- The per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2004 was 4.7 pounds. Candy consumption has actually declined over the last few years; in 1997, each American gobbled or savored more than 27 pounds of candy a year.

- The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2004 for all flower-producing businesses in 36 states with $100,000 or more in sales was $422 million was. Among states, California was the leading producer, alone accounting for nearly three-quarters of this amount ($304 million).

- The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2004 for all businesses in 36 states with $100,000 or more in sales was $43 million. Among all types of cut flowers, roses were second in receipts to lilies ($78 million).

- There were 22,022 florists nationwide in 2003. These businesses employed 113,270 people.

- There were 28,527 jewelry stores in the United States in 2003. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to lovers of all ages. In February 2005, these stores sold $2.4 billion worth of merchandise. (This figure has not been adjusted for seasonal variation, holiday or trading day differences or price changes.) .The merchandise at these locations could well have been produced at one of the nation’s 1,892 jewelry manufacturing establishments. The manufacture of jewelry was an $8.6 billion industry in 2003.

Data courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau