A sourced reference
U.S. gift-giving statistics & trends
Six current figures on the occasions, budgets, and online habits shaping how Americans give. Each statistic links directly to its original source.
Last updated: October 16, 2026
What this covers
A clearer picture of the moments people mark with a gift.
Gift giving is not one season or one relationship. Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and the winter holidays each bring their own reasons to celebrate, along with different budgets and shopping habits.
This page brings together recent public reporting from the National Retail Federation and the U.S. Census Bureau. It is designed as a straightforward reference for writers, shoppers, and anyone looking for a reliable snapshot of today's gift-giving landscape.
Key figures
The numbers behind today's gifting occasions
Valentine's Day
$29.1B
Expected U.S. Valentine's Day spending in 2026
Shoppers planned to spend $199.78 on average, the highest figure in the survey's history.
Source: National Retail Federation, January 27, 2026Mother's Day
$38B
Expected U.S. Mother's Day spending in 2026
84% of U.S. adults planned to celebrate, with celebrants budgeting an average of $284.25.
Source: National Retail Federation, April 21, 2026Father's Day
$27.9B
Expected U.S. Father's Day spending in 2026
77% of consumers planned to celebrate, with average planned spending of $226.58.
Source: National Retail Federation, June 10, 2026Winter holidays
$890.49
Average planned 2025 holiday spend per person
The survey covered gifts, food, decorations, and other seasonal items.
Source: National Retail Federation, November 6, 2025Winter holidays
+4.1%
Growth in 2025 holiday retail sales
Sales from November 1 through December 31 grew 4.1% year over year, based on the Retail Monitor's purchase data.
Source: National Retail Federation, January 12, 2026Online shopping
$316.1B
Seasonally adjusted U.S. retail e-commerce sales in Q4 2025
Online sales accounted for 16.6% of total U.S. retail sales in the quarter and rose 5.3% from Q4 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, March 10, 2026Reading the figures
Meaningful occasions keep people showing up.
The latest reports point to a consistent pattern: people continue to set aside money for the relationships and milestones that matter to them. Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Valentine's Day all carried record projected spending in 2026, while holiday retail sales also grew in the 2025 season.
Shopping is happening across stores and screens. The Census Bureau estimated that e-commerce made up 16.6% of total U.S. retail sales in the final quarter of 2025. That makes clear product details, reliable delivery information, and a gift that feels personal especially important when someone is choosing from a distance.
Methodology & sources
How this page is maintained
Every number above comes from the named original report, with its publication date and direct link shown beside the statistic. Spending figures described as expected or planned are survey or forecast results, not final sales totals.
DearieGifts reviews this reference regularly and updates it when a primary source releases newer comparable data. This page was last checked on October 16, 2026.
Cite this page
DearieGifts. “U.S. Gift-Giving Statistics & Trends.” Updated October 16, 2026. https://deariegifts.com/gift-giving-statistics