Graduation

NRF has been conducting its annual graduation spending survey since 2007 to see how Americans will celebrate high school and college graduates each spring.

Graduation spending to reach $5.5 billion

According to NRF's annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, 34% of respondents will buy a gift for a grad in their life this year.

  • Average spending will be $107.46
  • Cash will, once again, be the top gift
1
 
Group of kids throw their caps in the sky
 
Graduation over the years
Average and total spending has trended up over the years, while the number of people purchasing graduation gifts has stayed the same.
 

Historical highlights

Results of NRF’s graduation spending survey are released each year in May.

More consumer trends

How Sephora evolves the in-store experience
 
Photo of Sephora store interactive display
Retail Gets Real episode 160: Alison Hahn, Sephora’s SVP of Merchandising for Color and Fragrance, talks disruption.
Read more
3 charts that explain why consumers are feeling lucky this St. Patrick’s Day
 
More than half of adults plan to celebrate and total spending is expected to reach a record $6.16 billion.
Read more
NRF forecasts retail sales will grow 3.5 percent to 4.1 percent
 
large group of people are seen shopping on black friday
NRF forecasts that retail sales during 2020 will increase between 3.5 percent and 4.1 percent to more than $3.9 trillion
Read more
Understanding the future consumer
 
Retail Gets Real episode 159: Andrea Bell, Head of Insight for WGSN, on emerging consumer trends.
Read more
January retail sales grew 2.7 percent over last year
 
default image
January retail sales increased 0.2 percent over December and 2.7 percent year-over-year, according to NRF.
Read more
3 ways convenience impacts shopping behavior
 
Retailers have been setting new standards for finding and receiving items.
Read more