US Gifting Market Report 2024

Explore consumer gifting behavior with this in-depth report. Covering the US gifting market and trends impacting growth, you’ll gain pivotal insights into how to adapt your retail strategy to real preferences.

Below, we’ve summarized the core areas analyzed and provided hand-selected findings from the full document.

Core Areas Analyzed

• Macroeconomic factors impacting gifting.
• Occasions when gifting is a common practice.
• Types of items bought as gifts.
• Resources used to find gifts.
• Usage and attitudes toward gift registries.
• Attitudes toward the exchange of gifts.

US Gifting Market Overview

Consumers are currently still cautious with their discretionary spending. Scaling back on self-gifting and being selective about gifting occasions are only two indicators of a shift in the US gifting industry. However, this slow-down may not last, as Mintel predicts a more positive shift in consumer behavior. With economic conditions continuing to improve, a resurgence with changes in gifting behavior may take place.

Consumer Gifting Behavior

While consumers are shopping for gifts across occasions, participation is still yet to reach pre-pandemic levels. Among those buying gifts, consumers aged 25-44 are gifting the most, indicating various occasions to celebrate.

Gifts are usually safe options

Consumers have a plethora of choices when it comes to gifting. Even so, safer options are the go-to, with categories like gift cards leading. Brands can make the gift-choosing process easier by offering occasion-specific recommendations, as this report’s heat map of occasion gift types shows occasion heavily influences the gift bought.

Recipients want meaningful gifts

Above all, gift recipients want a meaningful gift, and close to this is something practical/useful. As consumers age, a practical or useful gift becomes more important, as 59% of those aged 55+ want this. Older consumers are also less fussy when it comes to receiving gifts. Combining these factors, brands can focus on marketing gifts to older consumers as an appreciated gesture and preferably, as something useful.

Buy the full report for a comprehensive review of gifting behaviors, occasions, recipient preferences, and more. You may also be interested in our other retail market research.

Additional Features Included in Your Report

• Different Digital Formats: PDF for conveniently sharing with your team, PowerPoint for quickly including in your presentations.
• Custom PowerPoints: Incorporate our consumer research data into your own work so you can win over your clients and stakeholders. Select insights from your report to create a custom presentation that is ready to download in minutes.
• Interactive Databook: Each Databook is provided as an interactive website where you can deep dive into our consumer research data on your chosen topic so you can draw your own conclusions.
• Mintel’s Clients Portal: Our portal provides instant access to actionable analysis, podcasts, and trend pieces relevant to your industry that are published almost daily, as well as our annual Global Consumer Trends. You can also browse our extensive library of market research reports.

Expert Analysis

Leading retail analyst Marisa Ortega delivers expert industry insights with this in-depth report.

As consumers rise from tough times, gifting is set to glow anew. Behaviors will evolve and tech adoption will increase, as will willingness to spend on gifts.

Marisa Ortega
Retail & eCommerce Analyst