Americans are expected to spend more than ever on gifts for Father’s Day this year, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insight & Analytics. Total spending related to the holiday is estimated to reach $16 billion, up from last year’s $15.3 billion.


“Over the past decade, spending on Father’s Day gifts has increased significantly. Retailers are ready with gifts that will have no problem impressing dad,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said.

Father’s Day spending has grown 70 percent, approximately $6.6 billion, since 2009.

35-44 years-old | Group with the biggest growth in Father’s Day spending
$197.66 | Average per-person spending among this age-group

75.9% | Percentage of people planning to participate
$138.97 | Average spending of those participating (up from $132.82 last year)
$91 | Average spent on Father’s Day in 2009


Popular Father’s Day gifts in 2019

Gift Category% PurchasingAvg. SpendTotal
Greeting cards61.7%$7.22$830 million
Special outing46.8%$29.10$3.3 billion
Clothing46%$21.88$2.5 billion
Gift cards43%$19.64$2.3 billion
Books/CDs21.5%$5.12$588 million
Personal Care20.5%$7.88$905 million
Electronics20.4%$15.80$1.8 billion
Tools or appliances17.6%$7.51$863 million
Home = Garden16.5%$8.07$927 million
Sporting Goods16.3%$7.16$822 million
AutomotiveAccessories15.7%$6.17$708 million
Other16.6%$3.41$392 million

Where Father’s Day shoppers are buying presents in 2019

39% | Department store
34% | Online
24% | Discount store
23% | Specialty store
11% | Specialty clothing store
2% | Direct mail catalog

Use of mobile devices for shopping

57% | Mobile device owners who will use them for gift decisions
38% | Percentage of mobile device owners who will use them to research products and compare prices  

Who will be receiving Father’s Day gifts

53% | Father or Stepfathers
27% | Husbands
9% | Other dads in their lives 


Source: National Retail Federation’s annual Father’s Day Purchasing Survey conducted by Prosper Insight & Analytics. The survey of 7,591 consumers was conducted May 1-9 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.2 percentage points. 

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