A lot happens in a week, so every Friday we're going to analyze all the new data and provide you with some of the key takeaways. Welcome to the Friday 5.

This week, online reviews convince Gen Zers, Valentine's Day breaks records, and where consumers learn about new products.

Key stat: 87% of Gen Zers say online reviews had at least a little influence over their decision to purchase a product, according to January data from CivicScience.

• 31% of US adults use review and rating websites to research and plan their travel itineraries, per August 2024 YouGov data.
• 46% of worldwide consumers switched brands/retailers after hearing a positive review from a social media influencer, according to a January report from Capgemini.

Key stat: Valentine's Day spending is expected to break a record this year, with consumers shelling out $27.5 billion, according to a new survey from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

• 60% of US adults believe that Valentine's Day is for both romantic and platonic relationships, according to a January 2024 report from YouGov.
• Over half (53%) of US adults enjoy Valentine's Day about as much as an average day, per YouGov.

Key stat: 63% of US consumers say they’re most likely to learn about new products from in-store promotions and displays, according to November data from Food Industry Executive.

• After discovering a new product, consumers research it at least three separate times before deciding to buy, per a survey from EMARKETER and impact.com.
• Almost 70% (69.3%) of shoppers discover new products at least once a week, per EMARKETER and impact.com.

Key stat: 50% of millennial taxpayers depend on their refund to make ends meet, according to a new report from Intuit Credit Karma and Qualtrics.

• Over half (55.4%) of US grocery shoppers have changed their habits to shop based on discounts and promotions to save money, according to September 2024 data from Swiftly.
• 68.0% of US consumers said limited-time offers or discounts contributed to in-store impulse purchases, per a November 2024 RetailNext report.

Key stat: 57% of US consumers plan to spend less on dining out, carry out, or food delivery services in 2025, according to the 84.51° "Consumer Digest 2024 Year in Review."

• The cost inflation for dining out slowed slightly to 3.8% in October 2024, down from a 5.4% growth the previous October, according to the US Department of Labor.
• Uber Eats' US restaurant sales will grow to $36.47 billion in 2025, an increase of 15.0%, according to our October 2024 forecast.

This was originally featured in the Retail Daily newsletter. For more retail insights, statistics, and trends, subscribe here.