US Gifting Market Analysis
The U.S. gifting market is currently navigating economic challenges, with inflation and financial pressures leading to a reduction in gift spending. However, historical data reveals moderate growth, with 2024 retail sales for Winter Holidays projected to see a 3% increase.
Consumers are increasingly prioritizing emotional, practical, and experiential gifts, shifting away from traditional material gifts. Technology plays a growing role in gift discovery and personalization, guiding shoppers through AI and social commerce platforms. Looking ahead, the US Gifting Market is expected to focus on value-driven gifting, with AI and personalized shopping experiences becoming more central to consumer behavior by 2028-29. This shift is expected to fuel further growth in the Gifting Market Industry.
US Gifting Market Consumer Trends
Consumer trends in the US gifting market show a shift towards more mindful and value-driven spending, with many consumers seeking gifts that offer emotional, practical, or experiential value. Traditional gifting occasions like Winter Holidays and Valentine’s Day are seeing reduced participation as financial pressures grow. Consumers increasingly prefer personalized gifts that align with their values, such as sustainability or social impact. Technology, including AI and social commerce, is increasingly guiding gift discovery, while secondhand gifting is gaining traction, especially among younger consumers, driven by sustainability and unique options.
Purchasing the US Gifting Market Report provides crucial insights into consumer behaviors and trends, helping you refine strategies and stay competitive in the evolving US gifts retailing market.
About The Report
The US Gifting Market Report provides insights into consumer preferences, Gifting Market Trends, and market drivers, covering areas like spending habits, gift types, and the impact of technology. It also examines how economic factors and AI influence purchasing decisions. Retailers, marketers, and brands targeting the US gifting market will benefit from this report by gaining a deeper understanding of evolving Gifting Market Landscape and consumer demands to refine strategies and stay competitive.
Key Topics Analyzed in the Report
- Economic uncertainty affecting consumer spending
- Rise of independent living, altering romantic-focused gifting occasions
- Technological advancements transforming gift shopping
- Shifts in consumer preferences towards experiential gifts
- Gift shopping behaviors
- Attitudes toward the exchange of gifts
| Report Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Published Date | March 2025 |
| Data Range | 2019-2029 |
| Measurement Metrics | Revenue in US $ |
| Country Focus | United States of America (USA) |
| Consumer Data | 2,000 internet users aged 18+, December2024 |
| Number of Pages | 48 |
| Market Segmentation | Clothing/footwear, Gift cards, Food and beverages, Toys and games, Jewelry/accessories, Electronics, Beauty and personal care products, Home items, Handmade gifts, Experiences, Subscription service. |
| Leading Companies | Coca-Cola, Target, The Strategist, Babylist, Etsy, Serena & Lily, MyRegistry.com, and Whole Foods Market |
Meet the Expert Behind the Analysis
This report was written by Marisa Ortega. Marisa joined Mintel in 2021 with a background in the beauty industry. She is an analytical and curious individual, who enjoys constant learning and finding the answer to the “why”. She applies this knowledge to create insightful reports focused on retail and ecommerce that provide a complete picture of a market and find new opportunities.
Gift shopping is changing, influenced by economic uncertainty, evolving social norms, and technological advancements. To maintain engagement during gifting occasions, focusing on providing monetary, practical, and emotional value is essential.
Marisa Ortega
Analyst – Retail & eCommerce
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- What you need to know
- Market predictions
- What consumers want & why
- Opportunities in gifting
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MARKET DYNAMICS
- Market drivers
- Market context
- The number of people living alone is increasing, particularly among women
- Emotional connection influences gift choices
- Technology is revolutionazing gift shopping
- Snapshot of key gifting occasions
- Winter holidays continue to be a top gifting occasion
- Consumers adjust their gifting spending due to lingering inflation
- Graph 1: anticipated total expenditures, in current dollars, 2014-24
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CONSUMER INSIGHTS
- Consumer fast facts
- Consumer fast facts (continued)
- Gifting occasions
- Consumers shift away from traditional gift giving for certain occasions
- Graph 2: participation in gifting occasions in the past 12 months, 2019-24
- Tap into the evolving celebration of Valentine’s Day
- Consumers are selective about the gifting occasions they choose to participate in
- Graph 3: repertoire of gifting occasions, 2024
- Younger consumers are active gift-givers, as this stage life includes major milestones
- Graph 4: gifting occasions in the past 12 months, by gender and age, 2024
- Types of items gifted
- The appeal of gifting experiences is growing
- Graph 5: types of items gifted, 2024
- From practical to personal, gifts vary across age groups
- Graph 6: types of items gifted, by gender and age, 2024
- Serena & Lily makes gift cards feel more special
- Consumers frequently choose gifts in familiar categories
- Cultural interests and trends can influence types of items gifted
- Graph 7: types of items gifted, by race and Hispanic origin, 2024
- Gift preferences
- Recipients’ preferences for gifts often fall into two categories: meaningful or practical
- Graph 8: gift preferences, 2024
- Gift preferences vary by gender and age
- Gift preferences vary by gender and age (continued)
- Graph 9: gift preferences, by gender and age, 2024
- The Strategist promotes expensive gifts for men
- Resources used to find gifts
- Resources designed to guide and simplify the gift search process are invaluable
- AI and influencer recommendations will further influence and shape the gifting process
- AI and influencer recommendations will further influence and shape the gifting process (continued)
- Graph 10: resources used to find gifts, by gender and age, 2024
- Target leverages UGC to provide gift ideas
- Approach to shopping for gifts
- Turn gift-giving into a chance to attract new consumers
- Graph 11: approach to shopping for gifts – brand/retailer familiarity, by age, 2024
- Lesser-known brands aiming to attract gift givers can use endorsements to build trust, credibility, and appeal
- Tailor strategies for last-minute and proactive gift shoppers
- Graph 12: approach to shopping for gifts – shopping timeframe, by gender and age, 2024
- Etsy curates a procrastinator’s gift guide
- Flexible return policies are important, but not critical when gifting
- Graph 13: approach to shopping for gifts – return policies, by age, 2024
- Maximize gift registry engagement
- Graph 14: approach to shopping for gifts – gift registries, by gender and age, 2024
- Frequent gift givers are a key group for legacy brands
- Graph 15: shopping behaviors when gifting, by repertoire of gifting occasions, 2024
- Attitudes toward giving and receiving gifts
- Gifting can be stressful, but it doesn’t need to be
- Graph 16: attitudes toward receiving and giving gifts – any agree, by gender and age, 2024
- MyRegistry.com expands its registry services to make gifting easier
- Facilitate the gifting experience for both, gift givers and recipients
- Graph 17: attitudes toward receiving and giving gifts – any agree, by gender and age, 2024
- Circular gifting is here to stay
- Graph 18: attitudes toward receiving and giving gifts – any agree, by age, 2024
- Babylist improves confidence about secondhand among gift givers
- Evolving celebrations and financial strain shape gifting
- Graph 19: attitudes toward receiving and giving gifts, by financial situation, 2024
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INNOVATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES
- Target debuts an AI-powered gift finder
- Google launched a holiday campaign, turning gift giving into a playful event
- Coca-Cola fosters feel-good moments during the holiday season
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APPENDIX
- Market definition
- Consumer research questions
- Consumer research methodology
- Generations
- Abbreviations and terms
- TURF analysis
- A look back at Mintel’s winter holiday retail sales and forecast
- Graph 20: total retail sales* in November and December, at current prices, 2014-24
- Total anticipated spending
- Spending on gifts
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