Monday, June 13, 2011

Father's day hopeful for business


Alexandria-area merchants hopee a recent National Retail Foundation survey is correct and spending will be up this Father's Day, but say they won't know for sure until it gets closer to the holiday.

"Really, next week is when we're going to find out," Paula Katz, manager of Security Sporting Goods in Alexandria, said this past week. "We hope it's up."

NRF's Consumer Intentions and Actions Father's Day survey projected that spending this Father's Day -- which is June 19 -- will be higher than any time in the survey's eight-year history.


The survey, conducted in early May, polled more than 8,000 consumers.

It projected Americans will spend an average of $106.49 on Father's Day, up from $94.32 last year.

Total Father's Day spending, according to the survey, is expected to reach $11.1 billion, including gifts as well as activities such as golf or eating out.

If the survey is accurate, it represents a reversal of a trend of lower Father's Day spending as the economy has suffered and closes the gap on Mother's Day spending (an average of $140.73 for the holiday last month).

"Spending on dad has taken a backseat for the past few years, but some kids and wives are planning to make up for lost time this Father's Day," said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. "Shoppers seem to be more excited when it comes to gift giving, an encouraging sign for retailers -- and dads -- everywhere."

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