According to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, this year鈥檚 amount beats the previous record of $35.7 billion set in 2023.
Another record this year is how much shoppers plan on spending: $284.25 per person, again beating 2023鈥檚 record of $274.02.
草莓传媒 spoke to tourists on the National Mall as they spent Mother鈥檚 Day weekend in the nation鈥檚 capital, asking what Mom really wants for her big day, and whether their kids know what that is.
Right outside the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on Independence Avenue was Brittany and her son Malachi from Sacramento, California.
鈥淚 gave flowers to my mom for Mother鈥檚 Day,鈥� Malachi said.
Even though Malachi isn鈥檛 old enough to be in school yet, he still managed to give his mom the holiday鈥檚 top gift.
Out of the 84% of adults celebrating Mother鈥檚 Day, three鈥憅uarters will be picking up flowers.
One of the most difficult parts of Mother鈥檚 Day shopping is getting Mom to admit what she wants. Some moms give an answer that鈥檚 hard to wrap and put a bow on, like wanting to spend time with family.
Brittany is not one of those moms.
鈥淚 would like to get my own hotel room by myself,鈥� Brittany said with a big laugh. 鈥淲ith no kids.鈥�
On the other side of the Air and Space Museum was Nikki and her family from New Jersey. Nikki, dressed in a blue sweater with an American鈥慺lag鈥慶lad teddy bear on the front, seemed pleased that both her husband and son agreed to wear the matching American鈥慺lag short鈥憇leeve button鈥慸owns she picked out.
Everett is Nikki鈥檚 elementary鈥憇chool鈥慳ged son, and he made his mom very happy with a handcrafted flower he made as her Mother鈥檚 Day gift.
Along with families on the National Mall, there were also students from around the country here on school trips 鈥� and some were still deciding what to get their mothers for the special day.
Two students from Chesapeake, Virginia, talked through their options.
鈥淓ither some jewelry or some candy,鈥� Morgan Haskins said.
When Haskins, who is 13, was asked what she could afford, she quickly answered, 鈥渃andy.鈥� Haskins did have a good point: while flowers are the number鈥憃ne Mother鈥檚 Day gift, the item people spend the most money on is jewelry.
Michaela Newkirk said she had already ordered Juicy Couture for her mom and would probably get her earrings as well.
While the students from Chesapeake moved across the Mall, another group of kids from Indiana walked toward the Bar Americano food kiosk.
Courtney Cox 鈥� no, not the one from Friends 鈥� is a 14鈥憏ear鈥憃ld who has plans to give her mom something priceless.
鈥淎 hug and a kiss and a spring full of joy,鈥� Cox said with a big laugh.
While gifts are popular on Mother鈥檚 Day weekend, so are experiences.
This year, a record one鈥憈hird of shoppers plan to give experience鈥憈ype gifts, such as concerts or sporting events.
That鈥檚 something Anne, who along with her 17鈥憏ear鈥憃ld, was taking in the day on the National Mall, can agree with.
鈥淲e go on a yearly Mother鈥檚 Day adventure weekend, and this year, we decided to come to D.C.,鈥� Anne said.
Anne, who is from Michigan, hopes their tradition lasts for a very long time.
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