Good use for pocket money

Men plan to spend more than women this Mother's Day, with an anticipated average "spend" of $170 compared with women's $110, according to a Brand Keys survey, writes MarketingCharts.

The survey, part of the Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, asked 1,200 men and women (age 18-65) how they planned to celebrate Mother's Day.

Higher gas prices and subsequently fewer occasions of ancillary driving to shop mean more consumers will shop online (+6 percent), causing a decrease in intended spend in specialty stores (-4 percent) and department stores (-4 percent), the survey found.

Cards were the most popular gift, cited by 95 percent of respondents, followed by flowers and a special celebratory meal. Anticipated spend on meals, cards, and electronics were are all up 5 percent from last year.

Half of respondents (60 percent of men and 40 percent of women) indicated they intend to connect with Mom via telephone. Also…

• 35 percent will visit her personally (40 percent of men, 30 percent women).
• 10 percent will send cards (equally men and women).
• 5 percent will connect online (4 percent men, 6 percent women).