Dive Brief:
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Valentine’s Day did little to soften the impact of a rough retail holiday season, with spending down 7%, or $17.3 billion, in 2014 from $18.6 billion last year, according to the National Retail Federation.
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Experts point to a silver lining: Divorce is on the rise, and that’s a sign of an improving economy.
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Divorces increased for three years straight after becoming more rare during the 18 recessionary months ending in June 2009, when divorces had been at a 40-year low.
Dive Insight:
New households — and the furnishings and other things they require for living — are forming thanks to a higher divorce rate. The dip in Valentine’s Day retail love doesn’t mean that love is out of favor — it could be another side-effect of the lousy weather. But economists do say that when more people take the financial risk that comes with divorce, it means they are more secure in their employment and their finances. It's not the most cuddly economic indicator, but we’ll take it.