The popularity of Valentine’s Day has dropped by four times, opinion polls show. However, despite the fact that the Russians included a “total ignore” in relation to this holiday, the flowers skyrocketed in price. According to the florist, 10 thousand rubles will have to be spent on a romantic bouquet of lilies of the valley. With gender holidays ahead (March 8 and February 23), such a romantic gesture could be a serious blow to the budget. Why interest in Valentine’s Day is falling, and flower arrangements continue to rise in price, and how to save on a bouquet, MK found out.
The population is in economic mode. Consumers do their best to protect their hard-earned money from inflation, but when the holidays approach, few people manage to avoid spending. By the way, the expenses of Russians for a date on February 14 increased by 15% over the year, experts calculated.
Traditionally, flowers are the most popular gift for loved ones. And, again, in accordance with tradition, the cost of bouquets skyrockets on the eve of the holidays. We got through to one of the flower shops in the capital and found out how things are going with prices this year.
“Tell me, how much will a bouquet of lilies cost?” We asked the florist Elena. “The composition of 7 flowers will cost 3,990 rubles,” the girl said and asked to give her a minute to check with the salon administrator. A few seconds later, Elena got in touch, apologized and named a fresh price list. In just an instant, the amount was seriously indexed. “Sorry, but I deceived you. Such a bouquet will cost 4,560 rubles,” she said. According to the saleswoman, for the first time she named the price from an outdated price list. “It is always more expensive on the eve of holidays,” our interlocutor concluded.
Earlier, the Association “Greenhouses of Russia” reported that the cost of flowers on average in the country could increase by 10-12% on the eve of Valentine’s Day and March 8. As florist Valentina Safronova said, a small bouquet of lilies of the valley for Valentine’s Day will cost 10 thousand rubles. But lily of the valley is a rare, expensive flower. But why are the same lilies sold for fabulous money?
Flowers traditionally rise in price on the eve of high holiday demand – before St. Valentine’s Day, March 8 and September 1. These seasons give flower sellers the largest revenue, hence the increase in cost, says Svetlana Samoilova, head of the Finliberty school of independent financial consultants.
According to her, the increase in the price of imported and domestic flowers is due to fluctuations in the exchange rate, as well as an increase in the cost of production within Russia (due to an increase in utility tariffs, planting material, packaging, and logistics). “On average, the cost of flowers in Russia may grow by 15-20% in the near future. And to save on a bouquet, you can pack the flowers yourself or even grow them at home. For spring gems, this is quite real – tulips and daffodils grow in pots on the windowsill, and you can buy bulbs for planting in the store, ”Samoilova sums up.
But if you cannot afford flower expenses, you can not pay any attention to the holiday on February 14 at all. This is what about 78% of Russians do. According to the SuperJob service, in 2022, only 12% of citizens will prepare a gift for their partner. By the way, interest in Valentine’s Day has fallen four times in 15 years. “If in 2007 every second Russian celebrated the holiday, then already in 2009 – only 40%, and in 2021 – only 13%,” the authors of the study found out.
I am not surprised that the popularity of this holiday, which came to us from Catholic countries just the same 15 years ago, is declining, says Petr Shelishch, head of the Consumers Union of Russia. Then the well-being of Russians grew rapidly, and with it the desire to celebrate, more, would have been a reason. “Today it’s not like that, there’s no fun,” as they say. How many lovers are able to spend 10 thousand on a romantic bouquet of lilies of the valley? And how many of the girls from not the richest families who received such a gift would prefer money to him? Fortunately, lovers have recently had an alternative, because, according to the calendar, this day is now also celebrated as World Book Giving Day. So you can remember the slogan of Soviet advertising “A book is the best gift” and combine both holidays. It will turn out not so expensive, but much more useful and memory for a long time, ”the source of MK believes.
Average cost of a date on Valentine’s Day by city:
Moscow 9332 rubles,
St. Petersburg 7054 rubles,
Rostov-on-Don 7029 rubles,
Ufa 6899 rubles,
Krasnoyarsk 6757 rubles,
Novosibirsk 6610 rubles,
Samara 6540 rubles,
Volgograd 6390 rub.
Source: Tinkoff Data
See also: Russians named the most desired gifts for Valentine’s Day
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