wfrank@altoonamirror.com
Beerbower Jewelers owner Don Beerbower helps a customer try on pearl bracelets at the Hollidaysburg store.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Mother’s Day spending is expected to total a record $28.1 billion this year, up $1.4 billion from 2020, according to the annual survey by the National Retail Federation. About 83% of U.S. adults are expected to celebrate the annual holiday.
“There is a lot of consumer optimism around Mother’s Day this year as more people are getting vaccinated and stimulus checks are being distributed,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a statement. “For many, this is a chance to make up for last year’s Mother’s Day when we were under lockdown. With safety guidelines at top of mind, consumers are planning to be with family, are making travel plans and organizing a special brunch or outing. All of these activities will be reflected through their purchasing decisions.”
wfrank@altoonamirror.com
A Valentineâs Day candy display at the Gardners Candies Logan Town Centre store. (Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski)
Like other special occasions, Valentine’s Day will be a bit different during the coronavirus pandemic.
Just more than half 52% of U.S. adults plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, spending a total of $21.8 billion, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
“There is no question the pandemic has disrupted many aspects of Americans’ daily interactions and activities,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay in a statement. “However, there remains a special significance around Valentine’s Day, and consumers are committed to celebrating friends and loved ones, even if that means having to alter those traditional holiday celebrations.”
bkibler@altoonamirror.com
With hospitalizations and daily deaths at record highs Thursday, the Wolf administration tightened restrictions again, this time through the holidays, with a prohibition on indoor dining and drinking; closure for gyms, theaters, museums, casinos and bowling alleys; a 50% capacity limit at other in-person businesses; a maximum 10 at indoor gatherings and 50 outdoors and no extracurricular activities at schools.
“We all hoped it would not come to this,” Wolf said during a virtual news conference, acknowledging that the restrictions have been hard on businesses and “crushing” on restaurants and bars and that none of it is their fault. “But the current stage (of the pandemic) did not allow us to wait,” the governor said.