Mother’s Day Gets Pricier in 2026: Meals Up 4%, Gifts Surge 6%

Restaurant Meals Bear the Brunt of Labor Pressures (Image Credits: Pixabay)

Families gearing up to honor moms this Mother’s Day face steeper bills as inflation lingers into spring. Treating a mother to brunch or dinner out now carries a 4% premium, pushing the average restaurant tab to $67 from $64 last year.[1][2] A lavish gift bundle – complete with flowers, jewelry, chocolates, spa services, perfume, and a card – totals $543, marking a 6% increase over 2025 figures.[1] These shifts reflect broader pressures in food service and retail sectors.

Restaurant Meals Bear the Brunt of Labor Pressures

The Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute drew from credit card spending data at full-service restaurants to forecast the uptick. Mother’s Day ranks as the second-busiest dining day after Valentine’s, amplifying the impact on household budgets. Diners will notice the difference most acutely in labor-driven costs.

Michael Swanson, chief agricultural economist at the institute, attributed the rise to competition for staff. “The restaurants need to compete to maintain those workers,” he said.[1] Wages in the leisure and hospitality field climbed 3.8% over the past year, per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures. Meanwhile, some menu staples offer relief: egg prices plummeted from $6.23 per dozen in March 2025 to $2.35 this March, easing brunch options.[1]

Gift Packages Add Up Quickly

CouponFollow’s review of Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index data and retail prices revealed uneven inflation across popular gifts. Jewelry under $500 and spa treatments, averaging $229 and $140 respectively, account for nearly 70% of the package total. Last-minute orders compound expenses with fees from $5 for same-day flowers to $20 for overnight chocolates.

The institute suggested brunch as a savvy choice given lower egg costs. Swanson noted, “Maybe this is the year to do a Mother’s Day brunch since egg costs are down significantly from a year ago.”[1] Beef prices, however, jumped 17% recently, while pork rose 1.3% and chicken fell 1.9%.

Breaking Down the Gift Cost Increases

• Flowers: $58.50, up 7.3% from $54.53
• Jewelry (under $500): $229.34, up 7.3% from $213.82
• Chocolates and candy: $40.71, up 7.2% from $37.97
• Perfume: $67.57, up 1.1% from $66.87
• Greeting cards: $6.90, up 1.1% from $6.83

Spa treatments round out the bundle at an average $140. Clay Cary, senior trends analyst at CouponFollow, warned that these increments accumulate fast. “A key takeaway from our study is just how quickly costs are adding up across various categories,” he said. “Planning ahead and using discounts where possible can make a meaningful impact on budgets this year.”[1][2]

Record Spending Despite Economic Strain

National Retail Federation projections point to $38 billion in total Mother’s Day outlays, surpassing last year’s $34.1 billion. This surge underscores the holiday’s enduring priority amid 3.3% annual inflation and rising energy costs. A Gallup poll indicated 55% of Americans view their finances as worsening, yet celebrations persist.

Consumers navigate these realities by prioritizing experiences like dining alongside thoughtful gifts. The Wells Fargo analysis highlights how targeted choices – such as egg-heavy brunches – can temper the blow.

As May 10 nears, the added costs serve as a reminder of inflation’s reach into personal milestones. Families may need to adjust plans, but the impulse to celebrate remains strong, potentially stretching budgets in subtle ways long after the day ends.