LOOT DROP CO / RESEARCH DESK
COUPLES, CONNECTION
& GIFT-GIVING BY THE NUMBERS.
A citable roundup of current U.S. data on relationships, shared time, seasonal giving, and online shopping. Last updated November 3, 2026.
BROWSE THE STATS ↓THE QUICK READ
THE MOMENTS THAT MAKE A GIFT MATTER.
Gift-giving is only one part of connection. This page brings together current public data on the occasions people celebrate, the time they make for each other, and the retail habits that shape how gifts are found. Every figure links directly to its original publisher, so it is easy to check and cite.
$29.1B
Expected U.S. Valentine’s Day spending in 2026
The National Retail Federation’s annual consumer survey forecasts a record total, up from $27.5 billion in 2025.
SOURCE: National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, January 27, 2026 ↗$199.78
Average 2026 Valentine’s Day gift budget
This is the record average shoppers said they planned to spend on gifts for the holiday.
SOURCE: National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, January 27, 2026 ↗2.13M
Marriages recorded in the United States in 2024
The provisional national marriage rate was 6.3 marriages for every 1,000 people.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, 2024 provisional data, published 2026 ↗58%
U.S. adults were living with a spouse or partner in 2023
Pew’s analysis of Census data found 51% were married and 7% were cohabiting. The remaining 42% were unpartnered.
SOURCE: Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data, January 8, 2025 ↗35 min
Average daily time Americans spent socializing and communicating in 2025
Only 30% of people age 15 and over did this on an average day, down from 38% in 2015.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey, 2025 annual averages ↗37 min
Average daily leisure time spent playing games or using a computer in 2025
The survey includes board games, video games, social media, and other leisure computer activity.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey, 2025 annual averages ↗17.1%
Share of U.S. retail sales that happened online in Q2 2026
Seasonally adjusted e-commerce sales reached $340.2 billion, according to the Census Bureau’s quarterly estimate.
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, August 18, 2026 ↗METHOD & SOURCES
BUILT FOR CHECKING, NOT GUESSING.
This page uses public data from government agencies, established research organizations, and the National Retail Federation’s annual consumer survey. Spending figures are stated as projections when their original source calls them projections. Time-use figures describe all Americans age 15 and over, not couples specifically.
We review this page about once a month, or sooner when a core source releases a newer figure. Individual statistics keep their own source date so readers can see exactly what each one represents.
CITE THIS PAGE
NEED A CLEAN REFERENCE?
Loot Drop Co. “U.S. Couples, Connection and Gift-Giving Statistics.” Updated November 3, 2026. Accessed [date]. https://lootdropco.com/couple-gift-statistics
When using a specific figure, please cite the original source linked with that statistic too.