Summer gifting season means gift cards

The Retail Gift Card Association surveyed U.S. consumers about what types of gift cards they will be giving for such occasions as weddings, Father's Day, graduation and teacher appreciation. Of over 1,100 consumers surveyed online in April and May 2014, the RGCA found that gift cards to department stores, online marketplaces, restaurants and home improvement stores will be most popular this summer, with $25 being the most popular amount loaded onto gift cards.

"Our survey showed that gift cards remain popular choices for two key reasons: gift givers can be assured recipients will be able to purchase what they want, and the cards are convenient for recipients since they can be spent in-store, online or on their mobile phones," said Mary Donovan, Executive Director of the RGCA.

Among the RGCA's key findings:

• 100 percent of survey respondents have used a retail gift card in the last year
• 77 percent or respondents have given a gift card in the last year
• More than two thirds of respondents plan to give a gift card in the next three months
• 45 percent of respondents said they would give a gift card for an online marketplace, such as Amazon, as a graduation gift
• 79 percent of respondents would give a retail gift card as a wedding gift, with 26 percent choosing a department store gift card and 20 percent choosing an online marketplace card
• 23 percent of respondents would give a home improvement store card as a Father's Day gift
• 85 percent of respondents would give a gift card as a teacher appreciation present, with gift card to a restaurant being the most popular choice at 29 percent, followed by online marketplace cards (25 percent)
• 44 percent of respondents said $25 gift cards are the denomination of choice, with 24 percent preferring $50 denominations and 6 percent giving $100 gift cards

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