On the heels of a healthy yet modest holiday shopping season, cautious consumers aren’t quite ready to splurge on Valentine’s Day this year, as they continue to keep their budgets in check. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2014 Valentine’s Day spending survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, 54% of Americans will celebrate with their loved ones this year, compared to 60% in 2013.

The average person plans to spend $133.91 on candy, cards, gifts, dinner and more, up slightly from $130.97 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $17.3 billion.

Apparel, jewelry and gifts supplier Kerusso has welcomed David Buck as vice president of sales specializing in Christian store key accounts.

“Dave joins Kerusso with over 20 years of account and sales management experience with Hallmark and DaySpring,” said company founder and CEO Vic Kennett. “Kerusso continues to expand, making Dave a great extension to our already impressive sales team. He understands our mission of spreading the gospel and maintaining relationships with our clients.”

Abbey Press will host a six-day Open House event on the grounds of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, April 6-11. Open to all wholesalers, the Open House is part of celebrations for the gift supplier’s 50th anniversary in 2014.

Abbey also has announced that one of its store customers attending the Las Vegas Market has won a free trip to the Open House in April. Wayne and Cindee Whiteman of Heavensent Christian Books and Gifts in Las Vegas are the winners.

Attendees at the Open House will receive free accommodations for a three-day, two-night stay; a commemorative gift; and the opportunity to enjoy the surroundings of the 160-year old southern Indiana monastery.

William “Bill” Goodyear, founder and CEO of Christian retail services group DeeperCalling Media, died of a heart attack Jan. 16.

The obituary notes that “the City of Duluth lost an incredible father, husband and friend. William Goodyear left footprints on the hearts of those who knew him. He will be dearly missed.”

The proportion of Americans who read e-books is growing as ownership of devices increases, but “print remains the foundation of Americans’ reading habits,” according to a recent Pew Research Center study. In fact, in every age, race/ethnicity, gender, education level, household income and community demographic reported, print books significantly outperform all other book formats.

The survey found that 28% of adults read an e-book in 2013, up from 23% in 2012. Meanwhile, seven in 10 Americans reported reading a book in print, up 4% from 2012, while 14% of adults listened to an audiobook. Only 4% reported their reading habits as “e-book only.”

The Parable Group continued its support of Operation Christmas Child (OCC) with a distribution of Christmas shoeboxes in Barranquilla, Colombia last week. Parable Group Marketing Specialist Laura Clark, store owner Sam Walker and 70 others from across the United States handed out shoeboxes to children living in poverty. They also were to meet with the national OCC volunteer team and observe how “The Greatest Journey,” the discipleship program used to help children become followers of Christ, is taught.

The Parable Group has ministered alongside Samaritan's Purse and Operation Christmas Child for more than seven years.

The U.S. economy grew at a solid 3.2% annual rate in the October-December quarter, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Consumer spending was the strongest it has been since the fourth quarter of 2010.

“Today’s advance estimate of real GDP shows that our economy continues to recover from the Great Recession," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on Thursday. “While a lot of work remains to help American businesses grow, create jobs and increase wages for our workers, we have also made progress. Thanks to the resilience, grit and hard work of the American people and our businesses, more than 2 million jobs were created last year. Through our ‘Open for Business Agenda,’ the Department of Commerce will keep up efforts to drive advanced manufacturing, support innovation, increase trade and investment, and help our workers with the skills and training needed to succeed in a competitive global economy. We are working every day at the Commerce Department to create growth and build real and lasting economic security for all Americans.”