ROSES ARE RED, BUT THEY'RE COSTING US MORE GREEN

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 14, 1992                   TAG: 9202140121
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HOUSTON                                LENGTH: Short
ROSES ARE RED, BUT THEY'RE COSTING US MORE GREEN
The days of free love are long gone. And the cost of being sweet to one's sweetie for Valentine's Day is higher than ever before.
According to the "Cost of Loving Index," compiled by Houston Asset Management, prices for romantic Valentine's Day gifts have gone up 11.9 percent since last year and nearly tripled over the past two decades.
A lavish Valentine's Day consisting of a dozen long-stem roses, Godiva chocolates in a valentine heart and a 1-ounce bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume would run at least $360. Add a candlelight dinner and movie and the tally rises by $156 to $516, the investment advising company said.
The total is up $40 over 1991 and up $372 from 20 years ago, when the same evening would have cost $144.
Although the cost of valentine cards and movies were unchanged this year, the price increase was fueled by a $10, or 15 percent, rise in the cost of a dozen roses, to $75.
And what about what many consider a 1992 valentine's essential: condoms.
The price for a single condom was 25 cents 20 years ago. It's tripled to about 75 cents, while the cost of a dozen-count box has ballooned from $2.75 to $5.75.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB