Holiday shopping season is here. How much are families planning to spend this year?

Answer: $1,654 per household

The average household expects to spend $1,654 this holiday season, up 4% from last year. That includes $988 on retail goods and $666 on holiday activities.

Questions:

• Would you rather get a gift or an experience, like concert tickets or a trip? Why?
• Is it okay to spend money on yourself during the holidays, or should holiday money go to others?
• Where would you draw the line between being generous and overspending?

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the Numbers: (Deloitte)

In Deloitte's 2026 Holiday Retail Survey, shoppers "expect their spending on retail goods to be up 10% year over year ($988)," while "planned spending on holiday activities is down 4% YoY ($666)." Experiences are also growing: "Half of shoppers plan to gift an experience this year, up from 47% in 2025 and 39% in 2024." (Survey of 4,000 U.S. consumers, fielded Aug. 26 to Sept. 10, 2026; published Oct. 15, 2026)

About the Author

Yonathan Tadesse

Yonathan is a Dallas-based Curriculum Designer at NGPF with 12 years of experience as a high school math, college transition, and financial literacy teacher. An award-winning educator, he has a track record of launching innovative programs at the high school level that expand access and opportunity for students. He is a graduate of Emory University and is passionate about advancing financial education for all students. Outside of work, Yonathan loves spending time with his wife and two kids, working out, playing chess and poker, and learning new things.

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