Americans spent over $9 billion dollars on Valentine’s Day gifts in 2008. 

Albany merchants have mixed opinions on how the recession will affect Valentine’s Day spending in southwest Georgia this year.  John Savelle of Savelle Jewelers says the recession has impacted the sale of fine jewelry because “it’s something that’s purchased with discretionary income, and the way the economy is right now there is very little discretionary income.”   Wanda Dollar, who owns a gift boutique store on North Slappey, says she has been just as busy this year as last year, partly because “we’re keeping prices down as much as we can because we know what the economy is doing.”  

Dollar says one of the more popular items this year has been her collection of singing balloons.