Each year, the Super Bowl is easily one of the biggest annual advertising events in the United States. It isn't too bad for some retail businesses, either, even in the current state of the economy.

So, with only a couple days left before the Arizona Cardinals face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII (Feb. 1) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., here are some interesting numbers we can expect.

167 Million
Estimated number of adults (73.3 percent) who will watch the big game this year, up from 158 million last year
Source: Retail Advertising and Marketing Association's 2009 Super Bowl Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey

$57.27
Average Super Bowl viewers will spend on food, merchandise, team apparel and even furniture, less than the $59.90 they said they'd spend last year

72.4%
Estimated number of consumers who will be buying food and beverages for the evening, compared to 67.4 percent last year

5.6%
Estimated number of consumers who will be purchasing team apparel or accessories for the game

1.2%
Estimated number of consumers who will be purchasing furniture for the game

2.7%
Estimated number of consumers who will be purchasing a television for the game

$9.6 Billion
In all, the amount shoppers will spend for the game this year

WHY WE WATCH

46.1%
Percentage of viewers who tune in to the Super Bowl for the game itself

7.1%
Percentage of Americans who say the most important part of the Super Bowl is the half-time show

19.9%
Percentage of Americans who say the most important part of the Super Bowl is simply the opportunity to get together with friends

26.9%
Percentage of Americans who say the most important part of the Super Bowl is the commercials

AD HYPE

79.3%
Percentage of people who look at commercials during the Super Bowl as entertainment

17%
Percentage of people who say the commercials make them aware of the advertiser's brand

6.7%
Percentage who say the commercials influence them to search online for more information

21.4%
Almost one-quarter of people wish advertisers would save their money and pass the savings onto them

$2.7 Million
The official price of a Super Bowl ad for 30 seconds in 2008 — up from $2.6 million in 2007 and $2.5 million in 2006
Source: Forbes

$2.4 Million
The "recession price" of a 30-second ad on NBC for this year's Super Bowl, though many ad spots have gone for as high as $3 million
Source(s): Ad Age, ABC News, The New York Times and CNET

CONTENDER and HOST CITIES

Phoenix, Arizona (Cardinals):

5th
Where Phoenix ranked on the list of the nation's most populous cities, with an estimated population of 1.6 million on July 1, 2007 (The Cardinals actually play in Glendale, Ariz., which had an estimated population of 253,152 on July 1, 2007, making it the 70th most populous city in the nation.)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau's population estimates

24%
Percentage of Phoenix residents aged 25+ who had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2007; 77 percent had at least graduated from high school
Source: U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 American Community Survey