58 Percent of Teens Say Rising Prices Have Impacted Holiday Gifts in Recent Years

07 August 2024

Junior Achievement Research Also Shows One-in-Five Earn Holiday Money Through “Gig” Jobs

A new survey of teens conducted for Junior Achievement by the research firm Big Village shows that a majority of teens (58%) say rising prices have impacted the number and types of gifts they have received for the holidays in recent years. Nearly three-in-four (71%) are concerned about the impact of inflation on this year’s holiday shopping season. The results are part of the JA Teens & Holiday Spending survey, which assesses teen consumer attitudes associated with the holiday shopping season. The survey of 1,003 13- to 17-year-olds was conducted by Big Village from October 10 through 15, 2023.

Additional findings include:

While 71% of teens say they get holiday spending money from their parents or caregivers, 19% say they get it from a gig job or side hustle (gig jobs often have age restrictions against minors doing them).
76% of teens plan to shop “in-store” this year, compared to 81% in 2021, with 67% also shopping online, compared to 70% in 2021.
Top teen gift ideas include clothing (58%, down from 62% last year), gift cards (51%, down from 52% last year), video games (44%, down from 47% last year), accessories (41%, down from 43% last year), and small electronics (33%, down from 35% last year).

“These survey results would indicate that teens are experiencing the economic realities of higher prices,” said Jack E. Kosakowski, President & CEO of Junior Achievement USA. “At Junior Achievement, we encourage parents and caregivers to take this opportunity to discuss things like putting together a budget for the holidays, comparison shopping, and creative gifting if higher prices or hard-to-find items become a challenge. Also, while we at Junior Achievement believe work experience is valuable, if teens are doing gig jobs, parents and caregivers should be aware of age restrictions associated with those applications and, if warranted, encourage their teens to do more age-appropriate work.”

For money management skills, Junior Achievement offers JA Connect, a free, online resource where teens can learn about careers, entrepreneurship, and how to manage money. The “My Money” section takes teens through developing a budget and planning their financial future. JA Connect is available at connect.JA.org.