Chicago–Apparently Americans think more highly of their fathers this year than last. Or maybe they’re just feeling flusher. Whatever the reason, this year the 1,000 consumers surveyed by the National Retail Federation plan to spend an average of $95 a household on Father’s Day gifts. Last year, the average was only $52.30. The average this year for Mother’s Day gifts was $97 per household. Women planned to outspend men appreciably: an average of $107 compared with $82.
Among those surveyed, 44.4% planned to buy Dad sporting goods or leisure items, up from 37.7% last year. Slightly more than 39% intended to give the gift of apparel, down slightly from 40.5% last year. Another 32.7% expected to buy their fathers books or CDs, while 29.5% were shopping for home improvement or gardening tools.