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The
National Retail Federation said consumers plan to spend $179.70
on the Easter holiday, the highest on record. A total of 79% of
Americans will celebrate the holiday and spend a collective
$21.6 billion, down slightly from last year’s pre-pandemic
forecast of $21.7 billion.
“They’re splurging a little bit more on food, on candy and gifts
for those Easter egg hunts, and some of those activities we
think of as traditional and normal,” said Kathleen Cullen, NRF’s
senior director of industry and consumer insights.
This year, consumers plan to mark the holiday by cooking a
holiday meal (59%), visiting family and friends (43%), watching
TV (435), planning an Easter egg hunt (31%), or attending church
(28%). However, not everyone is ready to resume in-person
activities, with 22% indicating they will attend church
virtually and 24% saying they will connect with family members
by phone or video.
“Keep in mind that last year’s survey was conducted in early
March before the pandemic forced most of the country to shut
down and reflects consumer pre-pandemic plans,” said Phil Rist,
vice president of strategy at Prosper Insights. “This year’s
numbers reflect not just consumer’s resilience over the last 12
months but also the enduring popularity of Easter.”
Small businesses in Illinois have been devastated since
state-mandated COVID-19 mitigation protocols went into effect
across the state. According to the Illinois Policy Institute,
35% of small businesses are closed now compared to before the
pandemic, more than any other Midwestern state, except Michigan.
Illinois’ decline in the number of small businesses ranks
eighth-worst in the country.
Fifty percent of small businesses in the food services and
accommodations industry and 51% of small businesses in the
leisure and hospitality industry have closed, the most affected
sectors in Illinois.
Mark Grant, Illinois director of the National Federation of
Independent Businesses, said the pandemic was difficult for
small businesses but things are slowly turning around.
“They are beginning to go to restaurants and bars again, and
obviously going to their local small retailers and help by
spending money,” Grant said.
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