St. Patrick’s Day Boon For Biz

Mercury News:

St. Patrick’s Day is a multibillion-dollar event that’s examined all the way down to the level of how many consumers will make a special dinner.

A whopping 33.7 percent is the stat, according to BIGresearch, which conducted a survey for the National Retail Federation.

Here are the major findings:

• Consumers will spend an estimated $3.64 billion on St. Patty’s Day, down from $3.76 billion in 2007.

• The decline is attributed in large part to a calendar problem. The March 17 event falls - for the first time since 1940 - during the Catholic Church’s Holy Week before Easter, leading to date changes in many places for parades and other observances.

• The average person will spend more than last year ($35.04 vs. $34.89), but fewer people will be celebrating (46 percent this year compared with 48.3 percent a year ago).

And - like a lot of celebratory events, I suppose - bars will be a major site for parties. More than 30 percent of consumers plan to attend a party at a bar or restaurant. Stay safe out there, people.

Photo by kk+.

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