Holiday Spending Statistics

It is impossible to imagine one’s life without holidays. It’s scary to even think about it. Holidays give us a chance to escape from the hustle and bustle of life and spend some quality time doing what we love, with the people we love. They are crucial for good mental health and help deal with mental exhaustion.

Given the importance holidays hold in their lives, people want to make sure they can make the most of their time off work. A lot of money is spent on having fun and spending quality time.

We have collected the top holiday spending statistics for you to look at that’ll show you how much money flows into the market during holiday seasons and what people empty their purses on.

On this page, you’ll find:

• Net Holiday Spending Statistics
• Major Holidays Spending Statistics
• Minor Holidays Spending Statistics
• Holiday Spending Customer Statistics
• Holiday Spending Distribution Statistics

Key Holiday Spending Statistics

Here are the top stats from the article below:

• In 2020 holiday shopping predictions projected the average household spending for the winter shopping season at $997.79 (NRF)

• In the U.S average daily online revenue went further than the $2.3 billion across the holiday season.(eMarketer)

• In 2020, Americans spent about $650 on Christmas gifts. (NRF)

• The total Halloween spending was $8.05 billion in 2020. (NRF)

• Online Thanksgiving sales surpassed $5 billion for the first time in 2020. (Adobe)

• The total spending on food items for the 4th July in 2020 totaled $6.52 billion. (NRF)

• 61% of shoppers start their holiday shopping before thanksgiving. (Deloitte)

• 10% of Americans budget for gifts based on how much the gift receiver spends on them. (Holiday Survey 2020)

• On average, 64 percent of holiday shoppers waited for a sale before making a purchase in 2019. (American Research Group)

• In 2020 Americans spent $227.26 on non-holiday gift purchases such as decorations. (Alliant Credit Union)

Net Holiday Spending Statistics

Many sectors serve as potential beneficiaries of holiday money spent by people; thus, analyzing the preference and pattern in the spendings of people becomes very important. The holiday season is economically one of the most profitable times for multiple businesses and so the vendors prepare accordingly to ensure the maximum sale of their product or service. Here are some stats that will give you an idea of the capital inflow in the market during holidays:

• In 2019, Americans spent $730.2 billion on winter holiday retail sales, up by 4.1% compared to 2018. (NRF)

• In 2020 holiday shopping predictions projected the average household spending for the winter shopping season at $997.79 (NRF)

• Super Saturday retail sales in 2019 hit record-breaking $34.4 billion. (Pymnts)

• About $1.1 billion is spent on air travel, while about 6.4 million people pay an average of $165 for round-trip tickets during the holiday season. (WalletHub)

• In the US Black Friday leads in terms of the number of customers with 114.6 million potential customers, while Cyber Monday comes in next with 68.7 million. About 66.6 million shoppers shop on Small Business Saturday, and 33.3 million on Sunday. (NRF)

• Worldwide Amazon Prime Day sales reached a record-high of $9.91 billion in 2020. (eMarketer)

• In the U.S average daily online revenue went further than the $2.3 billion across the holiday season, growing from $2.1 billion in 2018, resulting in a 13% gain and outpacing overall retail growth of 4% (eMarketer)

• In 2019, for the first time in history, smartphone purchases accounted for more than $50 billion in seasonal sales. (eMarketer)

• The average order value increased by 17% year over year. It averaged $144 across the five key shopping dates. (BigCommerce)

• Over half of consumers opted out of retail shopping in 2020 due to health risks. (Accenture)

Major Holidays Spending Statistics

Easter, the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year are some of the biggest festive holidays in the US and around the world. People spend huge amounts of money during these times on gifts, food, decorations, travel, etc. Various offers and discounts are given by platforms to increase their sale which benefits they, buyers, as well. Here are the top stats covering the spending people do during these holidays:

• In 2020, Americans spent about $650 on Christmas gifts. (NRF)

• 80% of Americans spend under $200 on New Year’s Eve. (WalletHub)

• US consumers spent about $5.7 billion on food and $3.2 billion on clothing for Easter 2020. (NRF)

• Easter has the highest candy sale among all other festivals amounting to $935 million. (Statista)

• The total Halloween spending was $8.05 billion in 2020. (NRF)

• In 2019, $3.2 billion was spent on Halloween costumes. An additional $2.7 billion and $2.6 billion went on decorations and candy. (NRF)

• Nearly two-thirds of Americans celebrate Halloween and spend an average of over $92.12. (NRF)

• Online Thanksgiving sales surpassed $5 billion for the first time in 2020. (Adobe)

• The YoY growth in Thanksgiving sales in 2020 was a significant 21.5%. (Adobe)

• Search advertisers increased Thanksgiving advertising spending by 20% in 2018. (Kenshoo)

Minor Holidays Spending Statistics

Along with the year’s major holidays, people also spend on special occasions like smaller holiday durations, long weekends, and ceremonies or parties. These events bring an increase in sale blips in the market and are beneficial for trade. Below we have you the holiday spending stats for such smaller occasions and festivities, and these will help you see that people are as eager to empty their pockets for smaller holidays as they are for the big ones:

• About 39.6 million Americans go shopping on Thanksgiving. (NRF)

• About 52% of Americans planned to celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2021. (NRF)

• Total expenditure on gifts in the United States reached $21.8 billion for Valentine’s day with over 50% spent on gifts. (NRF)

• In 2020, Valentine’s spending hit a record-high $27.4 billion only to drop to in 2021. (NRF)

• About 80% of Americans were planning to spend an average of over $200 per person on Mother’s Day. (NRF)

• Americans were planning to spend about $8 more for Mother’s Day 2020 as compared to last year.  (NRF)

• The average amount shoppers spent on celebrating Father’s Day was a record-high $138.97 in 2019. (NRF)

• In 2020, Americans spent an average of $76.49 for Independence Day. (NRF)

• In 2019, the average Independence Day spending per person was $73.33, while in 2018, it stood at $75.35. (NRF)

• The total spending on food items for the 4th July in 2020 totaled $6.52 billion. (NRF)

Holiday Spending Customer Statistics

Marketing agencies, advertisers, and sellers try their best to grab buyers’ attention to milk their money by selling products to them. Huge loads of money are spent to find what buyers appreciate and what they will buy. Speaking of holiday spendings, it is critical to have a look at the stats of the customers to see how much they are willing to spend to have a good time during the holidays:

• American households expect to spend an average of $997.79 during the winter holiday sales. (NRF)

• 38% of consumers planned to spend less during the 2020 holiday season. (Deloitte)

• 61% of shoppers start their holiday shopping before thanksgiving. (Deloitte)

• Those who start shopping before thanksgiving spend an average amount of $1,537. (Deloitte)

• About 47% of US consumers said they wouldn’t be shopping on any major shopping days. (Deloitte)

• 29% of shoppers planned to go shopping on Cyber Monday. Black Friday and Prime Day complete the list of top-three holiday shopping dates with 24% and 13%. (Deloitte)

• 21% of customers said they would be giving out fewer gifts this holiday. (Morning Consult)

• 33% of adults are trying to spend less on holidays and save more due to COVID–19. (Morning Consult)

• 10% of Americans budget for gifts based on how much the gift receiver spends on them. (Holiday Survey 2020)

• On average, 64 percent of holiday shoppers waited for a sale before making a purchase in 2019. (American Research Group)

Holiday Spending Distribution Statistics

In order to maximize sales during the holiday season, it is essential to know how the buyers are spending their money. Which commodities they are buying more and which they are buying less? What commodities are they willing to buy at increased prices and what commodities would they buy only if the costs are reduced? All of this can be known by looking at the holiday spendings distribution stats, some of which follow:

• The average holiday spending on gifts and gift cards during the winter shopping seasons is projected at $487. (Deloitte)

• In the holiday season the average expenditures on entertainment amount to $205 at home and $260 on socializing away from home. (Deloitte)

• 21% of total holiday spending in 2020 was expected to go on clothing and accessories. (Deloitte)

• In 2020 Americans spent $227.26 on non-holiday gift purchases such as decorations. (Alliant Credit Union)

• Americans plan to spend 13% of their holiday budget on electronics and accessories alongside an additional 13% on toys and hobbies. (Deloitte)

• 64% of winter holiday budgets in 2020 were expected to be spent online. (Deloitte)

• An average of $230 from the holiday shopping budget went on non-gift purchases like food and decorations. (NRF)

• 67 percent of shoppers were spending the most on holiday gifts for their children. (Black Friday)

• Sixty-one percent of holiday shoppers in 2019 used a smartphone to complete an online order. (Thinking With Google)

• People’s 2019 holiday budgets fluctuate based on where they lived. Urban shoppers planned to spend roughly $200 more than rural shoppers last year. (NPD)

Conclusion

Everybody waits for holidays, be it a school-going child or a person working an eight to ten hours job. People on Monday morning already wait eagerly for the weekend five days later. Most plan their holidays and make necessary arrangements months in advance to make the most of their time. Enjoying holidays demands significant loss in purse weights and people willingly spend vast sums of money for these occasions.

We hope the stats above helped you see the dynamics of the holiday spending of people and at the same time be able to give you some insights for your purchases in the upcoming holidays.