According to the National Retail Federation’s 2011 Mother’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by BIGresearch, the average person celebrating the holiday is expected to spend $140.73 on gifts, up from $126.90 last year and a return to 2008 spending levels. Total spending is expected to reach $16.3 billion.
This year, more indulgent gifts are expected to be popular. According to the survey, the number of people who plan on buying electronics (13.3 percent) will rise 48 percent from last year (9.0 percent) — and they’re spending more, too. Those buying electronics will shell out $94.91 on smartphones, cameras and even tablet devices, up eight percent from $87.70 last year. Jewelry also will be a popular gift, with 31.2 percent of celebrants planning to buy mom silver, gold or diamonds, up 19 percent from last year. Total spending on jewelry is expected to reach $3 billion.
In addition, restaurants and other businesses will benefit from the billions of dollars that come in for one of the biggest holidays of the year. More than half (54.7 percent) of all celebrants will treat mom to a nice dinner or brunch, spending a total of $3.1 billion. When it comes to where people will shop, the survey found nearly one-third (32 percent) of gift buyers will shop at a department store — the most in the survey’s history. Others will shop at discounters (29.6 percent), specialty stores including jewelers, florists and electronics stores (31.8 percent), online (21.5 percent) or at a specialty clothing store (7.1 percent).
“Whether it’s a special meal at her favorite restaurant or a new smartphone, families want to indulge mom this year,” says Phil Rist, executive vice president, Strategic Initiatives, BIGresearch. “As we’ve seen throughout the year, Americans will find ways to save money while at the same time splurging on the perfect gift for all the moms in their lives.”
Source: National Retail Federation & BIGResearch
