Mother’s Day Spending: $21 Billion to Say ‘I Love You’
Business + Economy

Mother’s Day Spending: $21 Billion to Say ‘I Love You’

iStockphoto/The Fiscal Times

Some say motherhood is a thankless job. But this Sunday, America's kids, husbands, and grandkids plan to spend billions upon billions of dollars thanking the moms in their lives.

$152.52
The average spending last year. This year's figure is an 11 percent increase.

Here, a few more of the numbers behind Mother's Day:

$20.7 billion
The amount Americans will spend this Mother's Day, according to the National Retail Federation's Mother's Day spending survey.

85.4 million
Moms in the U.S., according to the latest stats from the United States Census Bureau

$168.94
The average amount American consumer will spend on mom for Mother's Day 2013.

3
Mother's Day's ranking, after Christmas and Valentine's Day, in terms of the amount of money spent by U.S. consumers.

5
Father's Day's ranking

14.1
Percent of buyers who plan to purchase electronics as Mother's Day gifts — the highest percentage in history. 

$2.3 billion
Amount expected to be spent on electronics for Mother's Day, up from last year's $1.6 billion. 

$2.3 billion
Amount expected to be spent on flowers this Mother's Day.

16,182
Florist establishments nationwide in 2010, according to New York Citizen One.

70,575
Employees at floral shops across the U.S.

28.5
Percent of Americans who will buy their gifts online this year.

25.6
Percent of Americans who bought Mother's Day gifts online last year.

29.1
Percent of shoppers who will buy Mother's Day gifts at discount stores.

36
Percent of moms who would prefer to receive something homemade.

24
Percent of daughters who plan to give something homemade. 

17
Percent of sons who plan to give something homemade.

Sources: Business PunditCensus, Credit DonkeyNational Retail Federation, New York Citizen One

This article by Carmel Lobello orginally appeared in TheWeek.com

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