Consumers prefer online shopping and gift cards that give back this season

Survey data also shows that when selecting gifts this holiday season, nearly half of shoppers say they’re more likely to give gift cards this year (48%) and two thirds say are focused on charitable and cause related giving (69%). Additional insights from the Mastercard survey include:

• 63% of shoppers say they are more likely to buy their loved ones a gift card/prepaid card rather than a physical or experiential gift this year and 41% say gift cards are the top item on their own wish lists;
• gift cards are the most popular gift for parents/grandparents (21%), siblings, other relatives and best friends (all at 23%), coworkers (16%) and clients (12%);
• 20% of shoppers would like a gift that gives back to a good cause this year more so than in the past. Millennials are more likely to prioritise giving back, with 27% saying gifts that give back to a good cause are higher on their wish list, representing a significantly higher share than Gen X (15%) and Boomers (18%).

The survey was conducted among 4,000 respondents among representative populations across the US and Canada. All respondents were 18+, use a credit card, and were likely to shop during the 2021 holiday season.