Final answer:
The average American's spending on Valentine's Day can be deduced from broader consumer spending patterns. According to the Consumer Expenditure Survey, an average U.S. household spent $48,109 on consumption in 2015, with non-essential items being part of this budget.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount the average American spends on Valentine's Day is a figure that can be elusive due to variability based on personal income, geographical location, and individual preferences. However, considering the broader picture of spending habits, we can infer details from general consumer spending patterns. The Consumer Expenditure Survey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers insight into these patterns. In 2015, the average U.S. household spent a total of $48,109 on consumption. While specifics on Valentine's Day spending aren't delineated, it falls under the category of spending on 'a variety of items,' which includes discretionary spending such as holidays and gifts.
These consumer spending patterns provide contextual information for understanding where Valentine's Day expenses might fit in an average American's budget. A household's consumption on non-essentials could give us a hint about the amount spent on events such as Valentine's Day. While there is no exact number provided for Valentine's Day spending within the available data, consumer spending trends suggest that Americans may allocate a portion of their discretionary spending to this holiday.