Retailers are about to see their own little pot of gold.

Americans are expected to spend a record breaking $5.9 billion to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, according to an annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. This number up from last year’s previously record setting $5.3 billion.

Nearly 150 million adults are expected to celebrate the March 17 Irish holiday. The average reveler will drop around $39.65, up from $37.92 last year.

Food is the biggest expenditure. Fifty percent of people plan to spend money on specific holiday-themed foods. Another 41 percent will spend on beverages — dyed green no doubt. Apparel, decoration and candy are other top categories for St. Patrick’s Day spending.

Unsurprisingly the holiday is most popular with 18 to 24 year olds, with 77 percent celebrating the shamrock-themed holiday in some way. But the biggest spenders will be those ages 35 to 44, who will drop on average $45.76.

“With winter hopefully winding down over the next few weeks, consumers are ready to start celebrating spring with St. Patrick’s Day,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “The holiday falls on a Saturday this year, so Americans will have more time to splurge a little at they get together with friends and loved ones for a day of festivities.”


Here’s the breakdown on St. Patrick’s Day spending:


Also see, 20 recipes that use Guinness. 

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Meghan is a full-time writer exploring the fun facts behind food. She lives a healthy lifestyle but lives for breakfast, dessert and anything with marinara. She’s thrown away just as many meals as she’s proud of.