UK Platonic Valentine's Sales Up 30%

Sales of platonic Valentine's cards and gifts in the United Kingdom have risen by 30 percent over the past year, according to data from card and gift retailer Moonpig. The increase reflects a broader shift toward celebrating friendships and support networks on February 14, with friends now accounting for 16 percent of all Valentine's Day orders.

Moonpig's research, based on a poll of 2,000 adults, highlights how younger generations are leading this change. Three in 10 Gen Z respondents said they are more likely to mark the occasion with a friend than a romantic partner this year. Among women aged 18 to 24, 26 percent reported plans to celebrate Galentine's Day, a partner-free event honoring female friendships on February 13. Overall, 18 percent of adults indicated they view the 13th with equal importance to the traditional Valentine's Day.

The survey underscores the strength of these nonromantic bonds, particularly among women. Thirty-four percent of women said they have at least one friend they could call in the middle of the night during an emergency, compared with 22 percent of men. Women also showed greater long-term loyalty, with 25 percent maintaining contact with a...