$38 billion
2026 Mother’s Day spending expected
The National Retail Federation’s annual survey projects record U.S. Mother’s Day spending for 2026.
Source: National Retail Federation, 2026 Mother’s Day consumer spending and insights, April 2026A reference for gift-givers
U.S. gift-giving statistics for 2026.
Current seasonal shopping figures for writers, planners, and anyone looking at how Americans celebrate the people they love.
Last updated September 28, 2026
The short version
Celebrations still move people to give.
From milestone gifts for Mom to the first fall shopping trips, seasonal occasions give people a reason to mark a relationship with something thoughtful. The figures below gather the latest public U.S. benchmarks in one place, with each number linked to its original source.
These are national consumer and retail figures, not sales data from The Southern Belle Gift Shoppe.
Key statistics
Nine figures worth keeping close.
$284
planned per Mother’s Day shopper
NRF reports that shoppers are budgeting an average of $284 for Mother’s Day in 2026.
Source: National Retail Federation, 2026 Mother’s Day consumer spending and insights, April 2026$29.1 billion
2026 Valentine’s Day spending expected
NRF reports a record U.S. Valentine’s Day spending forecast for 2026.
Source: National Retail Federation, Valentine’s Day consumer spending and insights, January 2026$13.5 billion
2026 Halloween spending expected
NRF’s 2026 consumer survey projects $13.5 billion in U.S. Halloween spending.
Source: National Retail Federation, Halloween consumer survey, September 22, 202649%
of Halloween shoppers start in September or earlier
Nearly half of consumers say they plan to begin Halloween shopping in September or earlier.
Source: National Retail Federation, Halloween consumer survey, September 22, 202674%
of consumers plan to celebrate Halloween
NRF found that 74% of consumers plan to celebrate Halloween in 2026.
Source: National Retail Federation, Halloween consumer survey, September 22, 2026$890.49
2025 average winter-holiday budget
Consumers planned to spend this average on holiday gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items.
Source: National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, 2025 holiday survey, November 6, 2025$1.234 trillion
U.S. retail e-commerce sales in 2025
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 2025 retail e-commerce sales at $1,233.7 billion, up 5.4% from 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, fourth quarter 2025, February 202616.4%
of 2025 U.S. retail sales made online
The Census Bureau estimates e-commerce accounted for 16.4% of total U.S. retail sales in 2025.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, fourth quarter 2025, February 2026What the numbers suggest
Thoughtful occasions invite an earlier start.
Seasonal demand is not just a December story. In NRF’s 2026 Halloween survey, 49% of shoppers said they planned to begin in September or earlier. For gift-givers, an earlier start leaves more room to choose a detail that feels personal, whether that is a name, a date, or a message made for one person.
Online shopping remains a meaningful part of the wider retail picture. Census estimates put 2025 U.S. retail e-commerce at 16.4% of all retail sales, a useful reminder that shoppers often begin their search for a meaningful gift online, even when the final choice is handmade and made to order.
Sources and methodology
How this page is kept useful.
Each statistic on this page comes from the named source attached to it. Seasonal spending figures are drawn from National Retail Federation consumer research, often conducted with Prosper Insights & Analytics. Online retail figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s quarterly retail e-commerce release.
Figures are reported as published. Forecasts and survey results describe planned consumer spending, while Census figures are retail estimates. This page is reviewed about once a month, or sooner when a primary source publishes a newer benchmark.
Cite this page
The Southern Belle Gift Shoppe. “U.S. Gift-Giving Statistics: 2026 Seasonal Shopping Data.” Updated September 28, 2026. https://skpersonalizeddesigns.com/gift-giving-statistics/
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