Reference guide
Greeting card occasion statistics for 2026.
Verified U.S. gift-giving benchmarks for the occasions that keep cards, small gestures, and thoughtful illustration in people’s hands.
Last updated September 10, 2026
The numbers
The major card-giving moments remain major retail moments.
These figures describe total planned U.S. spending around Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. They are useful context for publishers, retailers, writers, and artists working in greeting cards, stationery, gifts, and licensed products. Each figure links directly to its original published source.
$29.1B
Expected Valentine’s Day spending
The National Retail Federation expects U.S. consumer spending for Valentine’s Day 2026 to reach a record $29.1 billion.
Source: National Retail Federation, February 6, 2026$38B
Expected Mother’s Day spending
U.S. Mother’s Day spending is expected to reach $38 billion in 2026, according to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Source: National Retail Federation, May 4, 2026$284
Mother’s Day spending per shopper
For Mother’s Day 2026, shoppers reported an average planned spend of $284 per person.
Source: National Retail Federation, May 4, 2026$27.9B
Expected Father’s Day spending
The National Retail Federation expects U.S. consumer spending for Father’s Day 2026 to reach a record $27.9 billion.
Source: National Retail Federation, June 11, 202677%
Consumers planning to celebrate Father’s Day
In the 2026 National Retail Federation survey, 77% of consumers said they planned to celebrate Father’s Day.
Source: National Retail Federation, June 11, 2026$226.58
Father’s Day spending per shopper
For Father’s Day 2026, shoppers reported an average planned spend of $226.58 per person.
Source: National Retail Federation, June 11, 2026Method and sources
What these numbers cover.
This page reports the National Retail Federation’s published U.S. consumer-spending survey findings for the 2026 Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day seasons. The page does not treat total seasonal spending as greeting-card sales. Instead, it gives a clear view of the occasions in which greeting cards and gift products compete for attention.
Survey methods, sample sizes, and full seasonal results are available in the original reports: Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day.
Cite this page
Christine Anderson Illustration. “Greeting Card Occasion Statistics for 2026.” Updated September 10, 2026. https://christineandersonillustration.com/greeting-card-statistics
A small format with a real job
Good card art makes a moment feel personal.
Christine Anderson creates hand-drawn illustration for greeting cards, gifts, and products that need warmth, character, and a clear point of view.