Mother's Day Spending 2026: Record $38 Billion, Flowers Up 7%, Dinner Check Hits $67

# Mother's Day Spending 2026: Record $38 Billion, Flowers Up 7%, Dinner Check Hits $67

> **Quick answer:** Americans spent a record $38 billion on Mother's Day 2026, according to National Retail Federation data — an 11% jump from 2025's $34.1 billion. The average person spent $284.25, flowers hit $58.50 per bouquet (up 7.3%), and the average dinner check rose to $67. A potent mix of tariff-driven supply chain costs, fuel inflation, and surging demand for experience gifts turned this year's holiday into the most expensive on record.

Mother's Day spending 2026 broke every record in the book — and the receipts are telling a story that goes well beyond affection for mom. The National Retail Federation's annual survey found that 84% of U.S. adults planned to celebrate this year, and the numbers they spent reveal exactly how inflation has embedded itself inside even the most emotionally charged consumer moments.

## Where the $38 Billion Actually Went: Category Breakdown

The NRF's 2026 Mother's Day data breaks down spending across categories that, taken together, paint a detailed portrait of the modern holiday economy.

**Jewelry** led all categories at **$7.5 billion** in total spending — making it, by far, the biggest single expenditure. **Special outings** (dinners, brunches, experiences) came in second at **$6.4 billion**, overtaking electronics for the first time in three years. **Electronics** crossed the $4 billion threshold for the first time ever, reaching **$4.4 billion**, reflecting the continued gifting of tablets, earbuds, and smart home devices. **Flowers** totaled **$3.2 billion** in aggregate spending, while **greeting cards** accounted for **$1.3 billion**.