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Barclaycard reveals Valentine's spending is sweet.

Data released today by Barclaycard Payment Acceptance, which enables retailers to accept both debit and credit card payments, confirms that British shoppers are still willing to splash the cash on their loved ones at Valentine's.

Flowers remain a favourite choice for present giving, with purchases from florists on the 14 February up 168.8 per cent on the week before. Jewellery purchases remain popular, with purchases on Valentine's Day showing a very strong uplift on the previous week's sales, an increase of 67 per cent from Saturday 7 February to Saturday 14 February. Meanwhile, spending in restaurants experienced a 20 per cent uplift on the previous week.

Unsurprisingly, the data shows that customers are opting to be more prudent in their choice of present with confectionary and bakery spend on the rise. Although confectioners represent only a small proportion of turnover, this sector showed the strongest growth when compared with data from last year, with spending increasing by 20%.

Aside from confectionery and bakery, spend in other areas was down this year compared to 2008. Compared to last year overall spending in restaurants for the two weeks leading up to Valentine's Day was down 8.2 per cent on the previous year, possibly showing that retailers' campaigns to encourage consumers to enjoy a meal at home have paid off.

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