Reference desk
U.S. Gift-Giving
& Retail Statistics
Current, citable numbers on how Americans spend, shop online, and make room for the objects they give and keep.
Last updated October 30, 2026. All figures are U.S. data.
The short version
Gifts still need a reason to matter.
Gift shopping sits where feeling meets value. These figures bring together holiday spending, household budgets, and e-commerce growth to give writers, shoppers, and creative businesses a grounded view of the market around thoughtful, art-led goods.
Every number below names its primary source and publication date. Follow the linked source for the original report, context, and methodology.
Key statistics
The numbers at a glance.
planned average 2025 winter-holiday spend per person
That covers gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items. It was the second-highest figure in the National Retail Federation survey’s 23-year history.
Source: National Retail Federation, October 16, 2025 ↗U.S. retail e-commerce sales in 2025
Annual e-commerce sales grew 5.4% from 2024 and represented 16.4% of total U.S. retail sales.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, March 10, 2026 ↗seasonally adjusted U.S. e-commerce sales in Q2 2026
The estimate was 12.2% higher than the same quarter a year earlier. E-commerce accounted for 17.1% of total retail sales in the quarter.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, August 18, 2026 ↗average annual spending per U.S. consumer unit in 2024
That was 1.8% higher than the 2023 average, according to the Consumer Expenditure Surveys.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 19, 2025 ↗average 2024 household spending on furnishings and equipment
Home-focused purchases remained a meaningful household spending category, even after declining 3.7% from 2023.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 19, 2025 ↗average 2024 household spending on apparel and services
The category accounted for a recurring slice of household spending, even as the annual average declined 2.0% from 2023.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 19, 2025 ↗average 2024 household spending on entertainment
Entertainment spending declined 0.7% from 2023, placing more pressure on gifts and small luxuries to feel worth keeping.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 19, 2025 ↗Reading the room
What these figures suggest.
Online shopping is now routine, not a side channel. With e-commerce accounting for more than one-sixth of retail sales, product pages, imagery, and gift guidance do real work before a shopper ever holds an item.
Value is about fit, not simply price. Household budgets are under pressure, which makes distinctive, useful pieces more important. A gift earns attention when it feels chosen for a person, not pulled from a generic list.
Seasonal spending remains a major moment. The winter-holiday survey shows people still prioritize people they care about, even when they are looking harder for value. Clear choices and personality-forward goods help turn that intent into a confident purchase.
Sources and citation
Use the original source. Cite this page when the collection helps.
Urban Avenue Shoppes compiled this page from published U.S. government data and the National Retail Federation’s consumer survey reporting. Figures are shown as reported by their original publishers. This page is refreshed when a key source releases material new data.
Suggested citation
Urban Avenue Shoppes. “U.S. Gift-Giving and Retail Statistics.” Updated October 30, 2026. https://urbanavenueshoppes.com/gift-giving-statistics
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