According to new research conducted last month by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), Australians are tipped to spend around A$995 million on Mother’s Day in 2024.

This figure marks a 7.5 per cent, A$70 million, increase over 2023.

The ARA-Roy Morgan Snap SMS survey also revealed the most popular gifts this year include dining out, trips away, and personal experiences, along with clothing, sleepwear, jewellery, chocolates, candles, and fragrances.

Flowers have remained popular with 41 per cent of survey goers intending to purchase them this year.

Despite an expected increase in spending, the survey also revealed 400,000 fewer people are expected to purchase Mother’s Day gifts, due to the impact of cost-of-living.

An increase in the overall spending amount is attributable to each person spending more on gifts.

Individuals are expected to spend upwards of A$102 per person, which is up A$92 compared with last year.

This reflects inflationary-driven price increases and indicates those purchasing gifts have been less affected by the cost-of-living.

The most popular Mother’s Day gifts this year are expected to be:

  • Flowers: 41 per cent (up from 27 per cent in 2023).
  • Alcohol/food: 17 per cent (down from 29 per cent in 2023).
  • An experience (trip away, dinner out): 16 per cent (up from 5 per cent in 2023).
  • Clothing/shoes/sleepwear: 10 per cent (the same as 2023).

Around 19 per cent of individuals who purchase a gift will be giving it to someone who is not their birth mother, including partner, friend, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, and daughter.

About a fifth of Australians are expected to celebrate with a café or restaurant meal, with 35 per cent cooking at home.

The CEO of ARA, Paul Zahra revealed with this week being the last shopping week prior to Mother’s Day, florists will reportedly be the biggest beneficiaries.

“With Mother’s Day this weekend, many Australians are planning to show appreciation for their mothers, despite ongoing financial pressures.”

“Whilst the overall spend is higher this year, fewer Australians will be buying gifts – which shows how cost-of-living pressures are disproportionately affecting families.”

In news of other retail spending trends, ChannelNews recently reported that consumers are spending less on some categories including home electronics, and more on other categories such as cosmetics, in Australia.

Compared with a year ago, home electronics was down 21 per cent, baby and nursery products were down 21 per cent, home décor was down 14 per cent, footwear was down 13 per cent, sporting equipment was down 11 per cent, personal entertainment was down 10 per cent, computers and tablets were down 9 per cent, computer accessories and software was down 8 per cent, large electrical goods was down 8 per cent, cards and stationary was down 6 per cent, homewares was down 6 per cent, clothing was down 5 per cent, and manchester was down 5 per cent.

On the other side, certain categories saw an increase in spending.

Pet supplies rose 13 per cent, gaming rose 12 per cent, cosmetics rose 9 per cent, perfume and aftershave rose 8 per cent, skin care products rose 7 per cent, phone and accessories rose 5 per cent, accessories for men, women, and children rose 5 per cent, games and toys rose 5 per cent, small electrical goods rose 3 per cent, crafts and hobbies rose 2 per cent, and books rose 1 per cent.