9 out of 10 Americans plan to celebrate the winter holidays. What are the most popular gifts to give during this time?

Answer:

1. Clothing or accessories (50%)
2. Gift cards (43%)
3. Toys (32%)
4. Food or candy (28%)

Questions:

• Why do you think gift cards are so popular?
• Discuss how trends and marketing influence consumer spending on any of the categories in this list.
• Are there any categories you were surprised to see didn’t make the top 4? Explain why or why not.

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (National Retail Foundation):

• 91% of consumers plan to celebrate the winter holidays

• Consumers are budgeting an average $890 for gifts and other seasonal items

• Top toys include Legos, Barbie, Hot Wheels and a doll

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.