Moneris Finds 48% Spike in Valentine’s Day Spending During Final Week

Moneris Data Services reported on March 2, 2026 that Canadians drove a 48 per cent week-over-week jump in spending during the week of February 14, 2026 compared with the previous week, and Moneris named florists, restaurants and at-home celebrations as the main engines of the lift. Sean McCormick, Moneris vice-president of business development, summarized the pattern: “Canadians ramped up their spending on Valentine’s Day in 2026, with total national spend rising 48 per cent week-over-week. Increases across key categories like florists, restaurants and grocery stores signal a balanced approach, as Canadians combined dining out with at-home celebrations tied closely to the occasion.”

Florists were the single most dramatic story in Moneris’ data: the blog reported nationwide florist spend surged 457% week-over-week while transaction counts climbed 505%. CP24’s provincial breakdown of Moneris figures shows even bigger spikes in some places — Quebec 567%, Alberta 522%, British Columbia 350%, Atlantic Canada 311% and Ontario 221% — with CP24 using phrasing that these increases came in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. If you are buying flowers for a partner, those numbers matter: expect rapid sellouts in Quebec and Alberta and pay for florist-quality arrangements. Typical florist bouquets range from about $50 to $120 for seasonal mixed blooms, premium long-stem rose arrangements run $150 to $300, and boxed preserved-rose gifts can be $80 to $150.

Moneris also flagged restaurants and grocery stores as major contributors to the final-week surge, a dynamic McCormick described as Canadians mixing dining out with at-home celebrations. For an out-of-the-house celebration, plan on prix-fixe dinners in the $80 to $150 per person range at mid-range restaurants; for at-home dates, Moneris’ note that grocery spending rose suggests meal kits and premium groceries are a reliable upgrade. Expect meal-kit servings to cost roughly $12 to $20 each, add a bottle of Ontario VQA wine for $20 to $60 and consider a bakery dessert for $10 to $25 to replicate the restaurant experience at home.

Jewellery showed a different pattern but remained meaningful at the provincial level. Moneris reported jewellery spend year-over-year rose 31% in Ontario, more than 50% in Atlantic Canada, 20% in Alberta and 33% in Manitoba, while Quebec and Saskatchewan registered declines in both spend and transaction counts. McCormick framed this as evidence that “Jewellery spending grew by 31 per cent in Ontario and more than 50 per cent in Atlantic Canada, demonstrating how meaningful gifting continues to strongly resonate at the provincial level.” For jewelry shoppers, affordable options that feel special include gold vermeil or sterling silver necklaces in the $80 to $250 range, everyday studs or hoops at $150 to $600, and lab-grown diamond pendants starting around $500 if you want a true splurge.

Regional behavior matters next Valentine’s Day. CP24 cited Moneris figures showing Quebec posted a 64 per cent increase on Valentine’s Day versus the same day one week prior in a previous year, and CP24 noted British Columbia registered the smallest Friday-to-Friday jump in 2025 at 26 per cent, which means availability and pricing will vary by province. Moneris’ pattern of a compact, final-week surge should steer your plan: if you are in Quebec or Alberta, order flowers and book restaurants earlier; if you are in a lower-spike market, you can use last-minute options to lean into at-home upgrades without paying peak premiums.