Cost of living pressures won’t stifle Mother’s Day spending as Australians expect to spend more on the occasion.
An Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Roy Morgan survey projects Australians will spend $925 million on Mother’s Day this year, up $166 million or 22 per cent on 2022.
The survey of 1682 Australian adults found one in two people were planning on buying gifts for Mother’s Day and expected to spend an average of $92.
Five in six respondents said they would spend more than last year while alcohol, food and flowers were the most popular choices for gifts and likely to account for about 30 per cent of the national spend.
One in four respondents planned to buy gifts for someone other than their birth mother, and some retailers have sent customers links to opt-out of Mother’s Day emails, which can be triggering for those grieving or estranged from their mother.
ARA chief executive Paul Zahra said most retailers were already promoting their Mother’s Day wares, a key event on the retail calendar.
“Amid ongoing cost of living pressures, many will be making an exception to spoil their mums – or in some instances other special people in their lives,” Mr Zahra said.
The expected 22 per cent boost in Mother’s Day spending outstripped the Consumer Price Index, which increased to 7 per cent over the twelve months to Q1 2023.
“While people may be reluctant to spoil themselves due to the high costs of living, they’re still enthusiastic to splash out on loved ones,” Mr Zahra said.
A fifth of respondents said they would celebrate the occasion with a meal at a café or restaurant while 38 per cent would opt for a feast at home.
– AAP
