U.S. Consumers Plan to Spend $5.87 Billion for St. Patrick’s Day

However, a recent survey found that 9 in 10 consumers expect inflation to affect 2022 holiday shopping and spending.

March 07, 2022

WASHINGTON—St. Patrick’s Day consumer spending is expected to reach $5.87 billion this year, according to data from the National Retail Federation. Fifty-four percent of consumers plan to celebrate, with the average consumer spending $42.33.

Making a special dinner at home is the top way consumers plan to celebrate at 34%, down from 42% in 2021. Nineteen percent will attend a party at a bar or restaurant, and 15% will attend a private party.

Most consumers will purchase food, with 59% of women surveyed planning to make a food purchase and 57% of men. Forty-four percent of women will purchase beverages, while 49% of men plan to buy beverages for the holiday.

A recent survey by Numerator found that about 9 in 10 consumers (89%) expect inflation to affect 2022 holiday shopping and spending, with 29% expecting a significant impact.

Numerator looked at consumers’ celebration, shopping and spending plans for 14 key holidays through the end of the year. Nearly three quarters (73%) of consumers expect COVID-19 to have an impact on their 2022 holiday celebrations, with 11% expecting a significant impact.

Cinco de Mayo is the most popular holiday for dining out (40% of consumers). About a quarter of consumers plan to dine out for St. Patrick’s Day (25%) and Mother’s Day (26%).

Supermarkets and mass retailers are the top two locations consumers plan to shop for all major holidays, with food-focused holidays leaning grocery stores and gift-focused holidays leaning mass merchants. Club retailers, bars and restaurants, and specialty retailers such as craft and costume stores round out the top five places consumers intend to purchase holiday goods.

For a look at what leading convenience retailers expect for the industry in 2022 and deep dives into how the industry fared in 2021, register to attend the NACS State of the Industry Summit, April 12-14, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Chicago, Rosemont, Illinois. See the full agenda and register today. Then look for the June 2022 issue of NACS Magazine for complete and exclusive coverage of the SOI Summit.