A recent research study suggests that although retail spending in general is on the rise, Dad may well get shortchanged this Father’s Day. The good news, according to eBillme’s recently released Online Spending Index, is that online retail spending will be up seven percent in the second quarter of 2010, compared with first quarter spending. On average, consumers should spend $252 each on web purchases in the second quarter. However, only ten percent of survey respondents said they intend to spend more for Father’s Day gifts this year.
Rubbing salt in the wound, Mom is getting more love than Dad. The survey says 25 percent of respondents planned to shop online for gifts for Mom, but only 21 percent for gifts for Dad. And 15 percent planned to spend more on gifts for Mother’s Day this year versus 2009, compared with just ten percent planning to increase spending for Father’s Day gifts. In fact, sons and daughters have not been doing their fathers justice in recent years. According to the National Retail Federation, spending on Father’s Day in 2007 topped $9.9 billion. In 2008, it dropped to $9.6 billion, and in 2009, spending on Father’s Day gifts dropped to $9.4 billion.
Research firm, eBillme, performs a similar research study every quarter, which produces a detailed analysis of consumer sentiment and expected consumer behavior. These studies survey over 1,500 respondents about their intent to make purchases over the coming quarter.