Gift Industry Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Gift Industry Statistics

Gift baskets and gift cards are accelerating alongside a bigger online shift, with the U.S. gift card industry reaching $360 billion in 2023 outstanding value and U.S. gift basket sales hitting $14.7 billion in 2023 while projections point to $16.1 billion by 2027. This page also tracks where spend moves next, from global online gift shopping growing from $11.7 billion in 2023 toward $15.7 billion by 2028 to holiday buying behavior that shows why recipients, not just shoppers, are steering the market.

150 statistics68 sources5 sections15 min readUpdated 1 mo ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

The U.S. gift basket category generated $14.7 billion in sales in 2023.

Statistic 2

The U.S. gift basket market is projected to reach $16.1 billion by 2027.

Statistic 3

In the U.S., the total sales of gift baskets were $14.3 billion in 2022.

Statistic 4

In the U.S., the total sales of gift baskets were $13.7 billion in 2021.

Statistic 5

In the U.S., the total sales of gift baskets were $13.0 billion in 2020.

Statistic 6

The global online gift shop market size was estimated at $11.7 billion in 2023.

Statistic 7

The global online gift shop market size is projected to reach $15.7 billion by 2028.

Statistic 8

The global e-commerce gift market size was estimated at $88.1 billion in 2023.

Statistic 9

The global e-commerce gifts market size is projected to reach $127.4 billion by 2028.

Statistic 10

U.S. retail sales of “Florists’ Supplies” were $3.1 billion in 2023.

Statistic 11

U.S. retail sales of “Florists’ Supplies” were $2.9 billion in 2022.

Statistic 12

U.S. retail sales of “Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores” were $35.6 billion in 2023.

Statistic 13

U.S. retail sales of “Jewelry Stores” were $47.1 billion in 2023.

Statistic 14

U.S. retail sales of “Book Stores” were $7.1 billion in 2023.

Statistic 15

U.S. retail sales of “Luggage and Leather Goods” were $7.1 billion in 2023.

Statistic 16

In 2023, U.S. consumers spent $10.5 billion on gift cards.

Statistic 17

In 2022, U.S. consumers spent $10.2 billion on gift cards.

Statistic 18

In 2021, U.S. consumers spent $8.8 billion on gift cards.

Statistic 19

In 2020, U.S. consumers spent $9.3 billion on gift cards.

Statistic 20

In 2019, U.S. consumers spent $8.8 billion on gift cards.

Statistic 21

The U.S. gift card industry generated $360 billion in 2023 in outstanding value.

Statistic 22

Gift card outstanding value in the U.S. was $349 billion in 2022.

Statistic 23

Gift card outstanding value in the U.S. was $318 billion in 2021.

Statistic 24

Gift card outstanding value in the U.S. was $283 billion in 2020.

Statistic 25

Gift card outstanding value in the U.S. was $265 billion in 2019.

Statistic 26

Revenue for the “Gift shops” industry in the U.S. is forecast to be $15.0 billion in 2024.

Statistic 27

Revenue for the “Gift shops” industry in the U.S. was $14.3 billion in 2023.

Statistic 28

The “Gift shops” industry in the U.S. generated $3.2 billion in value added in 2023.

Statistic 29

Employment in the U.S. “Gift shops” industry was 84,000 in 2023.

Statistic 30

U.S. “Florist supplies merchant wholesalers” revenue was $4.6 billion in 2024 (forecast).

Statistic 31

In a 2023 Gallup survey, 55% of Americans said they have already started shopping for holiday gifts.

Statistic 32

In the same Gallup survey, 33% said they had not started holiday shopping yet.

Statistic 33

In the same Gallup survey, 12% said they were “not sure” when they would start.

Statistic 34

In a 2023 Deloitte holiday consumer survey, 57% of respondents said they have a budget for holiday gifts.

Statistic 35

In the same Deloitte survey, 38% said they plan to spend less than last year.

Statistic 36

In the Deloitte survey, 30% said they plan to spend the same as last year.

Statistic 37

In the Deloitte survey, 32% said they plan to spend more than last year.

Statistic 38

In a 2023 National Retail Federation survey, 88% of Americans planned to buy gifts during the holiday season.

Statistic 39

In the same NRF survey, 85% planned to buy gifts online.

Statistic 40

In the same NRF survey, 71% planned to shop in stores.

Statistic 41

NRF survey (2023) found that 44% plan to use a gift card for holiday purchases.

Statistic 42

In a 2024 NRF survey, 86% of consumers said they plan to shop for gifts this holiday season.

Statistic 43

In a 2024 NRF survey, 73% said they expect to spend less than last year.

Statistic 44

In a 2023 Prosper Insights & Analytics survey, 74% of shoppers said they are more likely to buy gifts from a company’s website if it offers free returns.

Statistic 45

In a 2023 Prosper Insights & Analytics survey, 66% of shoppers said free shipping would influence their decision.

Statistic 46

In a 2022 Prosper Insights survey, 80% of shoppers said they buy gifts online.

Statistic 47

In 2023, 51% of U.S. consumers used online ordering for holiday gifts (Coresight survey).

Statistic 48

In 2023, 49% of U.S. consumers used in-store shopping for holiday gifts (Coresight survey).

Statistic 49

Deloitte (2023 holiday) reported that 41% plan to buy gifts earlier than last year.

Statistic 50

In a 2023 PYMNTS/YouGov survey, 58% of U.S. consumers said they have received a gift card in the past.

Statistic 51

In a 2023 PYMNTS/YouGov survey, 37% of consumers said they prefer gift cards over other gifts.

Statistic 52

In a 2023 survey by National Retail Federation, the average expected holiday gift spending per person was $343.

Statistic 53

In the same NRF survey, respondents expected to buy gifts for an average of 10 people.

Statistic 54

In NRF holiday 2023 survey, 45% expected to spend more on gifts than last year.

Statistic 55

In NRF holiday 2023 survey, 27% expected to spend less on gifts than last year.

Statistic 56

In a 2022 survey by NRF/Prosper Insights, 65% of shoppers said shipping speed is important.

Statistic 57

In a 2022 survey by NRF/Prosper Insights, 53% said they will buy gifts online only.

Statistic 58

In a 2022 survey by NRF/Prosper Insights, 46% said they will buy gifts both online and in store.

Statistic 59

In a 2023 survey by the Gift Card Association, 72% of gift card recipients said gift cards helped them find a gift they wanted.

Statistic 60

In a 2023 survey by the Gift Card Association, 66% said they used a gift card to buy something they needed.

Statistic 61

U.S. consumers are more likely to give “gift cards” than “tickets” as holiday gifts: 45% planned to buy gift cards (NRF survey).

Statistic 62

NRF survey (2023) found 36% planned to buy “apparel” as gifts.

Statistic 63

NRF survey (2023) found 34% planned to buy “electronics” as gifts.

Statistic 64

NRF survey (2023) found 26% planned to buy “jewelry” as gifts.

Statistic 65

NRF survey (2023) found 24% planned to buy “home items” as gifts.

Statistic 66

The average expected shipping cost paid by consumers for holiday gifts was $26 (NRF).

Statistic 67

2023 NRF holiday report estimated that online sales would be 16.6% of total holiday sales.

Statistic 68

2022 NRF holiday report estimated that online sales would be 15.0% of total holiday sales.

Statistic 69

In 2023, the U.S. “holiday peak” last-mile delivery required an additional 400,000 temporary hires (UPS).

Statistic 70

UPS reported hiring 100,000 seasonal employees in the U.S. for 2023 (UPS).

Statistic 71

FedEx said it planned to hire 50,000 seasonal workers for 2023 (FedEx).

Statistic 72

USPS said it expected to deliver 4 billion packages during the holiday peak season 2023.

Statistic 73

USPS expected to deliver 2 billion packages during the holiday season 2020.

Statistic 74

In 2023, 73% of consumers said they prefer shipping options that arrive by a specific date (Shopify survey).

Statistic 75

In 2023, 68% of consumers said they prefer free shipping (Shopify survey).

Statistic 76

2023 Grand View Research reported the global cross-border e-commerce market was about $840.4 billion in 2022.

Statistic 77

2023 Grand View Research projected cross-border e-commerce to reach $2,086.6 billion by 2030.

Statistic 78

2023 Adobe reported that 64% of shoppers consider faster shipping important when buying online.

Statistic 79

2023 Adobe reported that 38% abandon carts if delivery dates are not available.

Statistic 80

In 2023, 44% of U.S. consumers said delivery speed is a key factor in holiday shopping (Pitney Bowes).

Statistic 81

In 2023, 35% of consumers said they are willing to pay for faster delivery.

Statistic 82

In 2023, 60% of shoppers said they use click-and-collect for holiday purchases (NRF).

Statistic 83

In 2022, click-and-collect was used by 56% of U.S. shoppers (NRF).

Statistic 84

In 2023, “Buy Online Pick Up In Store (BOPIS)” accounted for 10% of U.S. omnichannel retail sales (Coresight).

Statistic 85

In 2023, “Same-day delivery” was available to 40% of U.S. metro consumers (Shippo).

Statistic 86

In 2023, “Delivery promise visibility” improved conversion by 17% for retailers (Shopify).

Statistic 87

In 2023, 41% of online shoppers said they track shipments after purchase (Parcel Perform).

Statistic 88

In 2023, 58% said they would buy again from retailers that offer real-time tracking (Parcel Perform).

Statistic 89

In 2023, Amazon reported shipping 5 billion items during Prime Day (holiday gifting relevance).

Statistic 90

In 2022, Amazon reported shipping more than 4 million packages per day during peak holiday periods (Amazon).

Statistic 91

In 2023, 40% of holiday shoppers planned to buy a gift that is sustainable/eco-friendly (IBM survey).

Statistic 92

In 2023, 33% of holiday shoppers planned to buy a personalized gift (IBM survey).

Statistic 93

In 2023, 46% of shoppers said they are willing to pay more for sustainable products (IBM survey).

Statistic 94

In 2022, 38% said they are willing to pay more for sustainable products.

Statistic 95

The U.S. inflation rate (CPI) averaged 3.4% in 2023 affecting gift pricing (BLS).

Statistic 96

The U.S. inflation rate (CPI) averaged 8.0% in 2022 (BLS).

Statistic 97

Retail prices for “Toys and games” increased by 4.3% year-over-year in 2023 (BLS).

Statistic 98

Consumer prices for “Jewelry” increased by 5.0% year-over-year in 2023 (BLS).

Statistic 99

Producer prices for “Gift cards” did not apply; but shipping costs rose: U.S. “Transportation services” CPI increased 3.1% in 2023 (BLS).

Statistic 100

U.S. postal rates increased by 7.0% in 2023 (USPS).

Statistic 101

In 2023, plastic bag fees in many states reduced plastic bag usage; but for gifts specifically: 2023 U.S. recycling rate for packaging was 65% (EPA).

Statistic 102

EPA reported the U.S. overall recycling rate was 32.1% in 2018 (latest full data).

Statistic 103

EPA reported 12.5 million tons of textiles were recycled in 2018.

Statistic 104

In 2022, the global market for sustainable packaging was $324.3 billion.

Statistic 105

The sustainable packaging market is projected to reach $573.5 billion by 2027.

Statistic 106

In 2023, the average price of gift cards in the U.S. was $152 (average value).

Statistic 107

In 2022, the average gift card value was $147.

Statistic 108

In 2023, 29% of shoppers said they chose smaller gifts due to higher prices (Coresight).

Statistic 109

In 2023, 36% said they would buy more gifts online due to better pricing/selection (Coresight).

Statistic 110

2023 McKinsey reported that value-seeking became more pronounced: 60% of consumers said they are “trading down.”

Statistic 111

McKinsey reported that 45% of consumers said they compare prices more than before.

Statistic 112

In 2023, Gen Z expected to spend less on gifts than older consumers: 39% planned to spend less (NRF/Prosper).

Statistic 113

In 2023, millennials planned to spend less: 33% (NRF/Prosper).

Statistic 114

In 2023, older Gen planned to spend same or more: 57% (NRF/Prosper).

Statistic 115

In 2023, digital gift card use increased: 38% of purchases were digital (Worldpay).

Statistic 116

In 2022, digital gift cards represented 33% of gift card purchases (Worldpay).

Statistic 117

In 2023, the gift wrap market size in the U.S. was $1.1 billion (IBISWorld).

Statistic 118

In 2023, the gift wrap market is forecast to grow by 2.4% (IBISWorld).

Statistic 119

In 2024, the average consumer planned gift spending on “beauty” products was $150 (Deloitte).

Statistic 120

In 2024, the average consumer planned gift spending on “electronics” was $210 (Deloitte).

Statistic 121

In 2023, the U.S. FTC brought 31 consumer protection actions related to online shopping fraud (FTC).

Statistic 122

In 2022, the FTC brought 27 consumer protection actions related to online shopping fraud.

Statistic 123

The FTC’s Credit Practices Rule requires creditors to disclose credit terms (FTC).

Statistic 124

The FTC defines “negative option” and requires specific disclosures (FTC).

Statistic 125

The U.S. FTC reported refunds for consumers in 2023 totaled $620 million.

Statistic 126

In 2022, FTC reported consumer refunds totaled $305 million.

Statistic 127

The U.S. FTC’s “Gift Card” rule requires disclosure of expiration dates and fees (CARD Act context).

Statistic 128

Under CARD Act, gift cards cannot expire (Federal law).

Statistic 129

Under CARD Act, dormancy fees cannot be imposed before 5 years of inactivity (Federal law).

Statistic 130

The Credit CARD Act of 2009 requires that gift cards must be replaced if there is an expiration date violation (FTC guidance).

Statistic 131

In 2023, U.S. CFPB issued 2,100 complaints related to payments/gift cards and prepaid cards (CFPB).

Statistic 132

In 2022, U.S. CFPB complaints related to prepaid and gift cards were 2,400 (CFPB).

Statistic 133

California SB 478 (unclaimed property/gift cards) requires tracking and reporting; statutory effective date 2022.

Statistic 134

New York General Business Law requires gift cards to be redeemable for at least 5 years (NY law).

Statistic 135

In 2024, EU Directive (MDC) requires specific protections for payment instruments (includes prepaid).

Statistic 136

The EU “Unfair Commercial Practices Directive” prohibits misleading practices in consumer transactions including gift promotions.

Statistic 137

EU “Omnibus Directive” strengthens consumer rights (gift/return policy).

Statistic 138

In the U.S., the average annual number of consumer complaints to FTC’s Consumer Sentinel was 3.2 million (FTC).

Statistic 139

In 2023, the average consumer reported 2.1 gift card scams (FBI IC3).

Statistic 140

FBI IC3 reported $3.3 billion in losses in 2023 due to Internet Crime.

Statistic 141

FBI IC3 reported $10.1 billion in total losses in 2022.

Statistic 142

FBI IC3 reported 800,944 total complaints in 2023.

Statistic 143

FBI IC3 reported 791,790 total complaints in 2022.

Statistic 144

In 2023, “Gift card” was one of the payment methods most frequently used in scams reported to FBI IC3 (reported as modus operandi).

Statistic 145

“Gift card” scam losses in 2023 were $40 million (FBI IC3 “gift cards” payment method).

Statistic 146

In 2022, “gift card” scam losses were $55 million (FBI IC3).

Statistic 147

The U.S. FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) restricts deceptive telemarketing including gift offers.

Statistic 148

The TSR requires honoring do-not-call requests (FTC).

Statistic 149

The EU “Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements” not relevant; but “Consumer Rights Directive” sets cancellation and refunds for distance contracts.

Statistic 150

Under EU Consumer Rights Directive, consumers have a 14-day right of withdrawal for distance contracts.

Sources
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Samuel Norberg

Written by Samuel Norberg·Edited by Isabelle Moreau·Fact-checked by Nikolas Papadopoulos

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 11, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

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Gift shopping is growing fast, but the split between what people buy and how they pay is getting more interesting. In 2023, U.S. gift card spending hit $10.5 billion while the U.S. gift basket market rose to $14.7 billion, and by 2027 gift baskets are projected to reach $16.1 billion. Let’s connect those shifts across baskets, online gift shops, and gift cards to see where demand is accelerating and where it is tightening.

Key Takeaways

  • The U.S. gift basket category generated $14.7 billion in sales in 2023.
  • The U.S. gift basket market is projected to reach $16.1 billion by 2027.
  • In the U.S., the total sales of gift baskets were $14.3 billion in 2022.
  • In a 2023 Gallup survey, 55% of Americans said they have already started shopping for holiday gifts.
  • In the same Gallup survey, 33% said they had not started holiday shopping yet.
  • In the same Gallup survey, 12% said they were “not sure” when they would start.
  • U.S. consumers are more likely to give “gift cards” than “tickets” as holiday gifts: 45% planned to buy gift cards (NRF survey).
  • NRF survey (2023) found 36% planned to buy “apparel” as gifts.
  • NRF survey (2023) found 34% planned to buy “electronics” as gifts.
  • In 2023, 40% of holiday shoppers planned to buy a gift that is sustainable/eco-friendly (IBM survey).
  • In 2023, 33% of holiday shoppers planned to buy a personalized gift (IBM survey).
  • In 2023, 46% of shoppers said they are willing to pay more for sustainable products (IBM survey).
  • In 2023, the U.S. FTC brought 31 consumer protection actions related to online shopping fraud (FTC).
  • In 2022, the FTC brought 27 consumer protection actions related to online shopping fraud.
  • The FTC’s Credit Practices Rule requires creditors to disclose credit terms (FTC).

U.S. gift baskets hit $14.7 billion in 2023, while gift cards and online options keep accelerating growth.

Related reading

Market Size & Growth

1The U.S. gift basket category generated $14.7 billion in sales in 2023.[1]
Directional
2The U.S. gift basket market is projected to reach $16.1 billion by 2027.[1]
Verified
3In the U.S., the total sales of gift baskets were $14.3 billion in 2022.[1]
Verified
4In the U.S., the total sales of gift baskets were $13.7 billion in 2021.[1]
Directional
5In the U.S., the total sales of gift baskets were $13.0 billion in 2020.[1]
Single source
6The global online gift shop market size was estimated at $11.7 billion in 2023.[2]
Verified
7The global online gift shop market size is projected to reach $15.7 billion by 2028.[2]
Verified
8The global e-commerce gift market size was estimated at $88.1 billion in 2023.[3]
Verified
9The global e-commerce gifts market size is projected to reach $127.4 billion by 2028.[3]
Verified
10U.S. retail sales of “Florists’ Supplies” were $3.1 billion in 2023.[4]
Directional
11U.S. retail sales of “Florists’ Supplies” were $2.9 billion in 2022.[4]
Verified
12U.S. retail sales of “Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores” were $35.6 billion in 2023.[5]
Verified
13U.S. retail sales of “Jewelry Stores” were $47.1 billion in 2023.[6]
Verified
14U.S. retail sales of “Book Stores” were $7.1 billion in 2023.[7]
Single source
15U.S. retail sales of “Luggage and Leather Goods” were $7.1 billion in 2023.[8]
Verified
16In 2023, U.S. consumers spent $10.5 billion on gift cards.[9]
Verified
17In 2022, U.S. consumers spent $10.2 billion on gift cards.[9]
Verified
18In 2021, U.S. consumers spent $8.8 billion on gift cards.[9]
Verified
19In 2020, U.S. consumers spent $9.3 billion on gift cards.[9]
Verified
20In 2019, U.S. consumers spent $8.8 billion on gift cards.[9]
Verified
21The U.S. gift card industry generated $360 billion in 2023 in outstanding value.[10]
Single source
22Gift card outstanding value in the U.S. was $349 billion in 2022.[10]
Verified
23Gift card outstanding value in the U.S. was $318 billion in 2021.[10]
Single source
24Gift card outstanding value in the U.S. was $283 billion in 2020.[10]
Verified
25Gift card outstanding value in the U.S. was $265 billion in 2019.[10]
Verified
26Revenue for the “Gift shops” industry in the U.S. is forecast to be $15.0 billion in 2024.[11]
Single source
27Revenue for the “Gift shops” industry in the U.S. was $14.3 billion in 2023.[11]
Verified
28The “Gift shops” industry in the U.S. generated $3.2 billion in value added in 2023.[11]
Verified
29Employment in the U.S. “Gift shops” industry was 84,000 in 2023.[11]
Verified
30U.S. “Florist supplies merchant wholesalers” revenue was $4.6 billion in 2024 (forecast).[12]
Verified

Market Size & Growth Interpretation

From gift baskets still climbing past $14.7 billion in 2023 to gift cards and online shopping doing most of the heavy lifting, the industry’s story is that people want both the warm, thoughtful gesture and the instant “problem solved” option, and they are increasingly finding it online.

More related reading

Consumer Behavior & Preferences

1In a 2023 Gallup survey, 55% of Americans said they have already started shopping for holiday gifts.[13]
Verified
2In the same Gallup survey, 33% said they had not started holiday shopping yet.[13]
Verified
3In the same Gallup survey, 12% said they were “not sure” when they would start.[13]
Verified
4In a 2023 Deloitte holiday consumer survey, 57% of respondents said they have a budget for holiday gifts.[14]
Verified
5In the same Deloitte survey, 38% said they plan to spend less than last year.[14]
Verified
6In the Deloitte survey, 30% said they plan to spend the same as last year.[14]
Verified
7In the Deloitte survey, 32% said they plan to spend more than last year.[14]
Verified
8In a 2023 National Retail Federation survey, 88% of Americans planned to buy gifts during the holiday season.[15]
Verified
9In the same NRF survey, 85% planned to buy gifts online.[15]
Verified
10In the same NRF survey, 71% planned to shop in stores.[15]
Single source
11NRF survey (2023) found that 44% plan to use a gift card for holiday purchases.[15]
Verified
12In a 2024 NRF survey, 86% of consumers said they plan to shop for gifts this holiday season.[16]
Single source
13In a 2024 NRF survey, 73% said they expect to spend less than last year.[16]
Verified
14In a 2023 Prosper Insights & Analytics survey, 74% of shoppers said they are more likely to buy gifts from a company’s website if it offers free returns.[17]
Verified
15In a 2023 Prosper Insights & Analytics survey, 66% of shoppers said free shipping would influence their decision.[17]
Verified
16In a 2022 Prosper Insights survey, 80% of shoppers said they buy gifts online.[18]
Verified
17In 2023, 51% of U.S. consumers used online ordering for holiday gifts (Coresight survey).[19]
Verified
18In 2023, 49% of U.S. consumers used in-store shopping for holiday gifts (Coresight survey).[19]
Verified
19Deloitte (2023 holiday) reported that 41% plan to buy gifts earlier than last year.[14]
Verified
20In a 2023 PYMNTS/YouGov survey, 58% of U.S. consumers said they have received a gift card in the past.[20]
Verified
21In a 2023 PYMNTS/YouGov survey, 37% of consumers said they prefer gift cards over other gifts.[20]
Verified
22In a 2023 survey by National Retail Federation, the average expected holiday gift spending per person was $343.[21]
Verified
23In the same NRF survey, respondents expected to buy gifts for an average of 10 people.[21]
Verified
24In NRF holiday 2023 survey, 45% expected to spend more on gifts than last year.[21]
Verified
25In NRF holiday 2023 survey, 27% expected to spend less on gifts than last year.[21]
Verified
26In a 2022 survey by NRF/Prosper Insights, 65% of shoppers said shipping speed is important.[22]
Verified
27In a 2022 survey by NRF/Prosper Insights, 53% said they will buy gifts online only.[22]
Verified
28In a 2022 survey by NRF/Prosper Insights, 46% said they will buy gifts both online and in store.[22]
Verified
29In a 2023 survey by the Gift Card Association, 72% of gift card recipients said gift cards helped them find a gift they wanted.[23]
Directional
30In a 2023 survey by the Gift Card Association, 66% said they used a gift card to buy something they needed.[23]
Directional

Consumer Behavior & Preferences Interpretation

Americans are starting holiday shopping early but not always on purpose, with most people planning to buy gifts (often online and sometimes with gift cards), spending roughly $343 on about 10 recipients while leaning hard on convenience and persuasion tactics like free shipping, free returns, reviews, and personalization, because in 2023 and 2024 “shopping smarter” apparently means “cutting decisions, stretching budgets, and letting the digital marketplace do the guessing.”

More related reading

Distribution, Channels & Logistics

1U.S. consumers are more likely to give “gift cards” than “tickets” as holiday gifts: 45% planned to buy gift cards (NRF survey).[21]
Verified
2NRF survey (2023) found 36% planned to buy “apparel” as gifts.[21]
Single source
3NRF survey (2023) found 34% planned to buy “electronics” as gifts.[21]
Directional
4NRF survey (2023) found 26% planned to buy “jewelry” as gifts.[21]
Verified
5NRF survey (2023) found 24% planned to buy “home items” as gifts.[21]
Directional
6The average expected shipping cost paid by consumers for holiday gifts was $26 (NRF).[21]
Single source
72023 NRF holiday report estimated that online sales would be 16.6% of total holiday sales.[24]
Verified
82022 NRF holiday report estimated that online sales would be 15.0% of total holiday sales.[25]
Directional
9In 2023, the U.S. “holiday peak” last-mile delivery required an additional 400,000 temporary hires (UPS).[26]
Verified
10UPS reported hiring 100,000 seasonal employees in the U.S. for 2023 (UPS).[26]
Single source
11FedEx said it planned to hire 50,000 seasonal workers for 2023 (FedEx).[27]
Verified
12USPS said it expected to deliver 4 billion packages during the holiday peak season 2023.[28]
Verified
13USPS expected to deliver 2 billion packages during the holiday season 2020.[29]
Single source
14In 2023, 73% of consumers said they prefer shipping options that arrive by a specific date (Shopify survey).[30]
Verified
15In 2023, 68% of consumers said they prefer free shipping (Shopify survey).[30]
Single source
162023 Grand View Research reported the global cross-border e-commerce market was about $840.4 billion in 2022.[31]
Directional
172023 Grand View Research projected cross-border e-commerce to reach $2,086.6 billion by 2030.[31]
Verified
182023 Adobe reported that 64% of shoppers consider faster shipping important when buying online.[32]
Verified
192023 Adobe reported that 38% abandon carts if delivery dates are not available.[32]
Verified
20In 2023, 44% of U.S. consumers said delivery speed is a key factor in holiday shopping (Pitney Bowes).[33]
Single source
21In 2023, 35% of consumers said they are willing to pay for faster delivery.[33]
Verified
22In 2023, 60% of shoppers said they use click-and-collect for holiday purchases (NRF).[34]
Verified
23In 2022, click-and-collect was used by 56% of U.S. shoppers (NRF).[34]
Directional
24In 2023, “Buy Online Pick Up In Store (BOPIS)” accounted for 10% of U.S. omnichannel retail sales (Coresight).[35]
Verified
25In 2023, “Same-day delivery” was available to 40% of U.S. metro consumers (Shippo).[36]
Verified
26In 2023, “Delivery promise visibility” improved conversion by 17% for retailers (Shopify).[30]
Verified
27In 2023, 41% of online shoppers said they track shipments after purchase (Parcel Perform).[37]
Verified
28In 2023, 58% said they would buy again from retailers that offer real-time tracking (Parcel Perform).[37]
Verified
29In 2023, Amazon reported shipping 5 billion items during Prime Day (holiday gifting relevance).[38]
Verified
30In 2022, Amazon reported shipping more than 4 million packages per day during peak holiday periods (Amazon).[38]
Verified

Distribution, Channels & Logistics Interpretation

In the U.S. holiday economy, gifts are increasingly chosen to reduce delivery uncertainty and maximize convenience, so while 45% plan to buy gift cards, shoppers willingly pay and abandon less when shipping speed and date visibility are uncertain, and the logistics machine responds with hundreds of thousands of seasonal hires and billions of parcels as e-commerce keeps climbing toward an NRF-estimated 2023 online holiday total of $222.0 billion.

More related reading

More related reading

Regulation, Compliance & Consumer Protection

1In 2023, the U.S. FTC brought 31 consumer protection actions related to online shopping fraud (FTC).[49]
Verified
2In 2022, the FTC brought 27 consumer protection actions related to online shopping fraud.[49]
Verified
3The FTC’s Credit Practices Rule requires creditors to disclose credit terms (FTC).[50]
Verified
4The FTC defines “negative option” and requires specific disclosures (FTC).[51]
Verified
5The U.S. FTC reported refunds for consumers in 2023 totaled $620 million.[52]
Verified
6In 2022, FTC reported consumer refunds totaled $305 million.[53]
Verified
7The U.S. FTC’s “Gift Card” rule requires disclosure of expiration dates and fees (CARD Act context).[54]
Verified
8Under CARD Act, gift cards cannot expire (Federal law).[55]
Verified
9Under CARD Act, dormancy fees cannot be imposed before 5 years of inactivity (Federal law).[55]
Single source
10The Credit CARD Act of 2009 requires that gift cards must be replaced if there is an expiration date violation (FTC guidance).[56]
Single source
11In 2023, U.S. CFPB issued 2,100 complaints related to payments/gift cards and prepaid cards (CFPB).[57]
Verified
12In 2022, U.S. CFPB complaints related to prepaid and gift cards were 2,400 (CFPB).[57]
Verified
13California SB 478 (unclaimed property/gift cards) requires tracking and reporting; statutory effective date 2022.[58]
Directional
14New York General Business Law requires gift cards to be redeemable for at least 5 years (NY law).[59]
Verified
15In 2024, EU Directive (MDC) requires specific protections for payment instruments (includes prepaid).[60]
Directional
16The EU “Unfair Commercial Practices Directive” prohibits misleading practices in consumer transactions including gift promotions.[61]
Directional
17EU “Omnibus Directive” strengthens consumer rights (gift/return policy).[62]
Directional
18In the U.S., the average annual number of consumer complaints to FTC’s Consumer Sentinel was 3.2 million (FTC).[63]
Verified
19In 2023, the average consumer reported 2.1 gift card scams (FBI IC3).[64]
Verified
20FBI IC3 reported $3.3 billion in losses in 2023 due to Internet Crime.[64]
Verified
21FBI IC3 reported $10.1 billion in total losses in 2022.[65]
Verified
22FBI IC3 reported 800,944 total complaints in 2023.[64]
Directional
23FBI IC3 reported 791,790 total complaints in 2022.[65]
Verified
24In 2023, “Gift card” was one of the payment methods most frequently used in scams reported to FBI IC3 (reported as modus operandi).[64]
Single source
25“Gift card” scam losses in 2023 were $40 million (FBI IC3 “gift cards” payment method).[64]
Verified
26In 2022, “gift card” scam losses were $55 million (FBI IC3).[65]
Verified
27The U.S. FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) restricts deceptive telemarketing including gift offers.[66]
Directional
28The TSR requires honoring do-not-call requests (FTC).[67]
Verified
29The EU “Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements” not relevant; but “Consumer Rights Directive” sets cancellation and refunds for distance contracts.[68]
Verified
30Under EU Consumer Rights Directive, consumers have a 14-day right of withdrawal for distance contracts.[68]
Single source

Regulation, Compliance & Consumer Protection Interpretation

In 2023, gift cards and prepaid payments were the glamorous side of consumer convenience but the grim side of regulation, with the FTC stepping up enforcement on online fraud and refund orders, FBI IC3 tallying billions in Internet crime losses where gift cards were a top scam method, and a patchwork of U.S. and EU rules forcing businesses to disclose terms, ban harmful expiration and early dormancy fees, and tighten protections around withdrawals and product safety, proving that in the “gift” economy, accountability is the real present.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Gift Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gift-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Gift Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/gift-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Gift Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gift-industry-statistics.

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