Mother’s Day Spending Expected to be Lower
Mothers in the U.S. can expect more frugal gift-giving this Mother’s Day, May 10.
According to the National Retail Federation’s “2009 Mother’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey,” conducted by BIGresearch, Americans will be spending an average of $123.89 per person on mothers this year, compared to $138.63 last year. This reflects an expected pullback on spending of 10.6 percent.
Total spending for the holiday is expected to reach $14.10 billion, which would be slightly more than the amount spent for Easter, according to the NRF.
Of the 83.3 percent of American who will celebrate Mother’s Day, 62.4 percent will buy gifts for their mother/stepmother or wife.
However, fewer people are expected to purchase gifts for daughters (8.8 percent compared to 9.4 percent last year), friends (6.8 percent compared to 7.1 percent last year) and godmothers (1.6 percent compared to 2.1 percent last year).
“Budget-friendly gift ideas will abound this Mother’s Day: discounted digital cameras, books and apparel still show mom how much she is appreciated,” said Tracy Mullin, CEO and president of NRF.
The majority of people, or 66.8 percent of them, say they will buy flowers for the mothers in their lives, which would amount to a total of $1.9 billion in spending on these items.
Taking mothers out to dinner or brunch or another kind of outing is planned by 54.8 percent of respondents, which would amount to $2.7 billion in spending.
Meanwhile, $2.3 billion is expected to be spent on jewelry, $1.5 billion on gift cards, $1.2 billion on clothing or clothing accessories and $1.1 million on personal services, such as a day at the spa.
American consumers are expected to spend $857 million on electronics or computer-related accessories, $587 million on housewares and gardening tools and $487 million on books or CDs.
Bargain-hunting will drive 30.2 percent of Mother’s Day shoppers to discount stores, 27.2 percent to department stores, 18.2 percent to the Internet, 33.0 percent to specialty stores (including florists, gift stores, electronics stores) and 5.5 percent to specialty clothing stores.
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