As anyone who claims Irish heritage (in other words, everybody) knows, Monday is St. Patrick’s Day. And in the last days of a truly tough winter, retailers are looking for a green celebration in more ways than one.
The National Retail Federation predicts a pot of gold in total consumer spending to celebrate the auld sod — $4.7 billion — with the average Kevin or Colleen forking over $35.27 on such essentials as leprechaun hats; strings of cardboard shamrocks for the office cubicle; Kiss Me, I’m Irish buttons the size of manhole covers; and gourmet delicacies like emerald-hued beer.
As for the social festivities associated with the day, it’s no surprise that more than 77 percent of the celebrations will be planned by Americans ages 18 to 24. But their elders will be digging deeper to do it up right, with people ages 35 to 44 spending the most on average, $41.68.