Mother’s Day Could Be a Spending Bonanza

Consumers plan to spend considerably more on Mother’s Day gifts this year compared to last. The National Retail Federation’s 2007 Mother’s Day Consumer Actions and Intentions survey, conducted by BIGresearch, shows that the 84.5 percent of respondents who said they intend to celebrate Mother’s Day will spend an average of $139.14 on mom, compared with last year’s average of $122.16. Below are some other findings from the survey, which drew nearly 7,900 responses.

* 37 percent of respondents said plan to buy apparel; combined, they’ll spend nearly $1.6 billion on clothes and accessories

* 32.8 percent who said they would buy jewelry will spend $2.1 billion on the category

* 61 percent will spend a total of $3.1 billion on a special dinner or brunch.

As for the shopping channels Mother’s Day gift-givers will use, just 2.9 percent said they’ll buy through catalogs; However, 20 percent said they’ll buy gifts online. Among the other retail channels,

* 37.5 percent will buy in specialty stores (eg: florists, jewelers or electronics stores)

* 29 percent will buy in department stores

* 24 percent will buy in discount stores

Among the most popular (planned) gifts for Mother’s Day,

* 86.8 percent of respondents will buy greeting cards

* 39.3 percent will buy gift certificates

* 29.3 percent will buy books or CDs

* 19.7 percent will give a personal-service gift, such as a trip to a spa

* 18.5 percent will buy housewares or gardening tools

* 11.3 percent will buy consumer electronics or computer-related accessories.

Male respondents to the survey said they plan to spend on average of $172.91, compared to women who plan to spend an average of $107.18 . Other demographic findings include:

* shoppers ages 25-34 will spend $151.42 on average

* ages 35-44 will spend $147.30 on average

* ages 55-64 will spend $138.14 on average and

* ages 18-24 will spend $137.73 on average

For more information, go to www.nrf.com or www.BIGresearch.com or www.nrf.com .