Tough economic times?  Not on Mother’s Day.

By LOUIS LLOVIO
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
Published: April 22, 2008

Moms who tell their kids it’s the thought that counts might just get their wish this Mother’s Day, according to survey from the National Retail Federation released this morning.

The survey found that consumers said they would spend about $15.8 billion for Mother’s Day this year, relatively unchanged from last year’s $15.73 billion.

Phil Rist, vice president of strategy for BIGresearch, a consumer research firm that conducted the study, said tough economic times affected the growth.

“Gas prices and other economic issues will still be at the forefront of people’s minds” as they shop, he said.

The federation ranks Mother’s Day, which falls on May 11, as the third-largest shopping holiday of the year, behind the winter holidays and Valentine’s Day.

The survey found that the average customer expects to spend $138.63 as opposed to $139.14 last year. That increase, 0.37 percent, compares with an inflation rate for 2007 of 2.85 percent.

One of the biggest differences according to the survey is that gift buyers will buy one major gift as opposed to several smaller ones.

Shoppers expect to spend $2.7 billion on jewelry, up from $2.1 billion last Mother’s Day.

The survey also found shoppers expected to spend $3 billion on meals, $1.2 billion on electronics such as digital cameras and frames, $2 billion on flowers, $1.4 billion on clothes and accessories; $1.1 billion on spa and salon packages, $1.6 billion on gift cards, and $672 million on greeting cards.

Contact Louis Llovio at (804) 649-6348 or .