Facts and figures for Father’s Day 2022

Although the idea of Father’s Day was conceived in 1909 by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington, to honor her father, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children on a farm, it wasn’t until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.

Spending for Father’s Day

Consumer spending this Father’s Day is expected to reach $20 billion, nearly the same as last year’s record-setting amount of $20.1 billion, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. About 76 percent of U.S. adults are expected to celebrate Father’s Day.

Consumers plan to spend an average of $171.79 to honor their fathers and other important men in their lives, about the same as last year’s $174.10.

In gift giving, the survey found consumers are interested in “finding a gift that is unique or different,” 44 percent, and “finding a gift that creates a special memory,” 37 percent.

One-quarter of consumers plan to give “gifts of experience” such as tickets to a concert or sporting event. Another 37 percent are interested in extending the length of the celebration by giving a gift that’s delivered monthly.

Consumers plan to spend the most, $32.29, on a special outing such as a Father’s Day dinner or brunch, similar to last year’s $29.37.

Shoppers are also planning to spend nearly the same as last year in the gift categories of clothing, $26.62, and gift cards, $23.02.

Facts about dads

The U.S. Census Bureau provides these facts about dads:

75 million

The number of fathers in the United States

29 million

The number of fathers who also are grandfathers.

204,000

The number of fathers in the U.S. who are stay-at-home dads.

The Pew Research Center offers these dad facts:

• Fifty-seven percent of dads say parenting is extremely important to their identity.

• Fifty-four percent of dads say parenting is rewarding all of the time.

• Forty-six percent of dads say parenting is enjoyable all of the time.

• Fifty-two percent of working dads say it’s very or somewhat difficult to balance the responsibilities of work and family.

• Forty-eight percent of dads working from home all or most of the time since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak say it was very or somewhat difficult for them to get their work done without interruptions.

WalletHub, a personal finance website, calculates at the best and worst states for dads to live in:

The best states for dads are Massachusetts, Minnesota, District of Columbia, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Illinois.

The worst states for dads are Arizona, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Idaho, Alabama, Nevada, West Virginia, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Louisiana.