Americans won’t just be reaching for Easter eggs and the buffet table this holiday weekend.
The National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual survey shows those celebrating the religious holiday will be reaching into their wallets and spending $18.2 billion total – the second-highest level on record.
That figure is a decrease from last year’s record of $18.4 billion. An estimated 81 percent of Americans will spend about $150 per person this year – down from $152 in 2017.
Laura George of Cleveland. Tenn., was shopping among the pastel-colored Easter baskets and plastic eggs this week at the Ooltewah-area Walmart Supercenter. In the cart sat her 15-month-old daughter, Addie George, who was busy tearing apart the cardboard wrapping of an egg dye kit her mother picked out.
“I’ve already spent over $100,” said George as she searched through shelves of egg-shaped candy. “It’s easy to get that much if you get clothes and all the goodies, including spring décor.”