Easter Spending Expected to Reach $18.2 Billion

​Easter spending is expected to reach $18.2 billion this year, narrowly down from last year’s $18.4 billion. According to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, this year is still the second-highest year on record. Eighty-one percent of Americans will celebrate the holiday, and the average expenditure is expected to reach $150 per person, or $2 per person shy of 2017’s record.

Consumers will spend $5.7 billion on food (purchased by 87% of shoppers), $3.2 billion on clothing (48%), $2.9 billion on gifts (61%), $2.6 billion on candy (89%), $1.3 billion on flowers (42%), and $780 million on greeting cards (46%).

In preparation for the Easter holiday, most consumers will buy their goods from discount stores and department stores; however, 30% of smartphone users will research products or compare prices on their devices, and 19% will use the device to make a purchase.

“Consumer spending remains healthy both for this holiday and this spring, and that paints an optimistic picture for the US economy in the year ahead,” said Matthew Shay, President and CEO of the NRF.

​The survey was conducted among 7,737 consumers from March 2nd until March 14th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1%.