Consumers are expected to spend $4.6 billion to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year, or just over $36 per person on average, according to the National Retail Federation.
The survey, conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, says nearly 127 million Americans will mark the day with green garb and holiday-themed food, spending just slightly more than last year.
Eight in ten people plan to wear green on Tuesday, while about a fifth of those surveyed will decorate their homes. Nearly a third plan to celebrate at a bar or restaurant, while another third are planning their own special dinners.
"Falling at the perfect time of year – just as temperatures begin to rise – retailers are hoping St. Patrick's Day will also draw the attention of those looking for traditional spring merchandise," such as home improvement and garden products and spring apparel, said Matthew Shay, NRF president and CEO.
The survey, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.3 percentage points, polled more than 6,000 consumers in February, NRF said.
lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com