Hong Kong’s slowing economy has put love to the test, with nearly half of men in relationships saying they plan to scale back Valentine’s Day celebrations this year by staying home, according to a survey from a matchmaking service.
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The results of a poll released by HK Romance Dating on Wednesday found that 48 per cent of men said they planned to celebrate the occasion at home – the highest level in the survey’s five years and a sharp increase of 17 per cent from 2024.
This year’s survey saw researchers interview 461 couples between mid-January and early February.
The poll also showed 36 per cent of female respondents planned to stay in, compared with 19 per cent in 2024.
“This year, the economy worsened so people are not very willing to spend, or are more inclined to stay at home for celebrations,” said Winson Yu Ka-shing, the company’s marketing manager.
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Hong Kong’s economic growth slowed to 2.5 per cent last year, down from 3.2 per cent in 2023. Retail sales have also declined for 10 consecutive months as of December, falling 9.7 per cent year on year that month.
Interest in giving gifts on Valentine’s Day has also fallen, with 27 per cent of men having no plans to buy their partners a present, up from 22 per cent last year.