NRF puts Easter spending at $16.4 billion

WASHINGTON — The average person celebrating Easter this year will spend $140.62, slightly more than last year’s $137.46, according to the National Retail Federation’s Easter Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. Total spending for Easter is expected to reach $16.4 billion.



According to the survey, 45% of those celebrating will purchase clothing, spending more than $2.9 billion on bright colored apparel items for themselves and their families. However, more people plan to buy food for the holiday: 85.7% will purchase food for a family meal or other festivity, spending more than $5.3 billion on Easter fare.  



Children and sweet-tooth craving adults will also purchase candy this Easter: 87.1% of those celebrating say they will buy candy, spending more than $2.2 billion on jelly beans, chocolate bunnies and flavorful chick-shaped Peeps.



Consumers this holiday will also spend $2.4 billion on gifts, $1.1 billion on flowers, $998 million on decorations and $695 million on greeting cards.



With a laundry list of items to buy, 58.6% will head to discount stores to purchase their holiday merchandise. Another four-in-10 (40.7%) will shop at department stores, while 23.8% plan to shop at a local or small business.



Additionally, 21.8% will head to a specialty store like a florist or jewelry store and 18.8% will shop online.