Recent Mother’s Day spending statistics show that total expenditure on celebrating the special occasion hit $31.7 billion in 2022, a 12.9% increase over 2021’s numbers.

But just what are consumers spending on for Mother’s Day, one of the biggest shopping days of the year?

According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, flowers are one of consumers’ largest Mother’s Day expenditures. More specifically, they’re their fifth-largest expense, after jewelry, special outings, electronics, and gift cards. Here’s a look at how much money is spent on flowers for Mother’s Day every year.

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How much money is spent on flowers for Mother's Day: 2012–2020

In 2022, consumers spent $2.9 billion on flowers on Mother’s Day in the United States—a 9% annual increase and the highest-ever amount recorded.

Over the past decade, expenditure on flowers to mark the special second Sunday of May has increased. Aside from slight falls in 2016, 2019, and then again in 2020, the general trend shows that consumers have spent more buying flowers to celebrate Mother’s Day every year.

In 2012, total expenditure on flowers for Mother’s Day was recorded at $2.2 billion. This increased by 5% the following year, to $2.31 billion, before rising by 1.7% both in 2014 and 2015, to $2.35 billion and $2.39 billion, respectively.

Overall spend on flowers slipped by 0.4% in 2016, marking its first fall in at least eight years. But the downward trend quickly reverted, growing by 8.8% the following year, to $2.59 billion, and then by 1.2% in 2018, to $2.62 billion.

The proceeding two years saw a fall in the amount of money spent on flowers for Mother’s Day. In 2019, expenditure dipped by 1.5%, to $2.58 billion, before another marginal fall of 0.8% in 2020 brought total spending down further, to $2.56 billion.

How much money is spent on flowers for Mother's Day: 2021–2022

Flower expenditure has rebounded since. In 2021, consumers spent 3.9% more than in 2021, bringing the total to $2.66 billion. 2022 saw the biggest annual increase in flower expenditure in a decade, expanding by 9%, to hit $2.9 billion.

The same survey also shows that out of those who celebrated Mother’s Day in 2022, the percentage of men purchasing flowers (77%) was higher than women (66%).

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