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Mother’s Day Spending Likely to Top $20B
WASHINGTON -- Forget flowers. This year, America's mothers can expect iPads and jewelry as consumers spend an average of $168.94 on Mom -- up 11% from last year.
Total spending for Mother's Day is expected to reach $20.7 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.
“It’s clear that Americans this year want to honor the woman with the hardest job in the world with unique and special gifts this Mother’s Day,” said Matthew Shay, NRF president and CEO, in a prepared statement." After a long winter that kept many from splurging on any new spring merchandise, retailers are looking forward to opening their doors and surprising shoppers with promotions that are perfect for any gardener, host, fashionista or tech-savvy mom.”
Traditional gifts such as flowers, apparel and gift cards remain popular, but many consumers will stretch their budget this year and treat their mothers electronic goods, Shay predicts. The survey found 14.1% -- the highest in its history -- of shoppers this Mother’s Day will spend more than $2.3 billion on electronics, up from $1.6 billion last year, and more than one-third (34.4%) of gift givers will buy jewelry, spending $4.2 billion, up from $3.7 billion last year.
Additionally, children and husbands will splurge on a special outing, such as brunch or dinner ($3.5 billion), flowers ($2.3 billion), gift cards ($2.0 billion), clothing or clothing accessories ($1.7 billion), and personal service gifts, such as a day at the spa ($1.5 billion).
When it comes to where people shop, 34.4% of buyers will go to a department store, the survey found. Other shoppers will head to discount stores (29.1%), specialty stores including jewelers, florists and electronics stores (36.6%) and specialty clothing stores (8.9%). Some 28.5% will buy their gifts online, up from 25.6% last year and the highest in the 10 years the survey has been conducted.
In addition to celebrating their female parent, Americans will buy Mother’s Day gifts for other women in their lives, including their wife (23.6%), daughter (10.5%), grandmother (8.5%) and sister (8.2%). However, most will buy for their mothers or stepmothers (65.2%).
The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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