Editorial Valentine’s Day, by the numbers

Valentine’s Day is just two weeks away, and all those cards, candy, flowers and other symbols of love are great for business.
Here, from that sentimental old U.S. Census Bureau is Valentine’s Day, by the numbers:
1,379: The number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate products in 2012, employing 37,998 people. California led the nation with 152 of these establishments, followed by New York, with 119.
445: Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured non-chocolate confectionery products in 2012. These establishments employed 20,419 people. California led the nation in this category with 46 establishments.
$13.5 billion: The estimated value of shipments in 2011 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products.
Non-chocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was an estimated $8.4 billion industry.
14,344: The total number of florist establishments nationwide in 2012. These businesses employed 62,397 people.
$294,730,180: The value of imports for cut flowers and buds for bouquets in 2014 through November. The total value of fresh cut roses as of October 2014 was $407,807,220.
23,413: The estimated number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2012. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to couples of all ages.
29 and 26 years: Median age at first marriage in 2013 for men and women, respectively.
53 percent: The overall percentage of people 15 and older who reported being married.
69 percent: Percentage of people 15 and older in 2013 who had been married at some point in their lives - either currently or formerly.
37: The provisional rate of marriages per 1,000 people performed in Nevada during 2011. So many couples tie the knot in the Silver State that it ranked No. 1 nationally in marriage rates. Hawaii ranked second with a marriage rate of 17.6.
2.1 million: The provisional number of marriages that took place in the United States in 2011. That breaks down to nearly 5,800 a day.
19 percent: Among people 15 and older who have been married, the percentage of men and women in 2013 who have been married twice, and 5 percent have been married three or more times. By comparison, 76 percent of people who have been married have done so just once.
8: Median length, in years, of first marriages that ended in divorce.
393: The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2007. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed 3,125 people and pulled in $928 million in revenue.
FORUM NEWS SERVICE