Easter spending in Nevada could rebound to near-record highs this year, according to data from a state retail association.
The Retail Association of Nevada said late Wednesday that Nevadans could spend up to $244 million dollars shopping for Easter items like food, candy and gifts in 2015. The figure is a 3.6 percent increase from last year’s estimated total of $235 million.
The agency’s projections are based on a nationwide survey from the National Retail Federation, localized to consider trends, wages, adult population and unemployment rate in Nevada, said Bryan Wachter, senior vice president of NAR.
Among reasons for this year’s higher projections, Wachter said, is a drop in Nevada unemployment — which fell from 8.2 percent in February 2014 to 7.1 percent in February 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“People are more confident, and consumers are now splurging a little bit more during the holidays,” Wachter told the Review-Journal.
Most of Nevadans’ Easter spending is on meals, according to the retail association, followed by clothing, gifts, candy, flowers and greeting cards. The group estimates Nevadans will spend about $79.4 million this year on meals alone.
The average Easter shopper will spend $140.62 in Nevada, the agency predicted, compared to $137.46 in 2014. The 2015 projection is the third-largest since the RAN survey began in 2007. Only 2012 and 2013’s numbers were higher, with the average Nevada Easter shopper spending $145.28 and $145.13, respectively.
“It’s not as high as it once was because we have yet to see wages increase,” Wachter explained. “But folks are back to work, and things are picking up in some capacity.”
Nationally, consumers are expected to spend $16.4 billion on Easter, according to the National Retail Federation, a 2.9 percent jump from the 2014 total of $15.9 billion.
Contact Chris Kudialis at ckudialis@reviewjournal.com