Survey: Apparel, CDs/DVDs and Gift Cards Top Gift Categories

New York, Americans plan to spend nearly a quarter of their gift-giving budgets on gift cards this year, according to a new survey from American Express Gift Cards released Tuesday.

The survey finds that Americans plan to spend 25% of their total gift spending on gift cards, up from 18% last year and 13% in 2005, and that shoppers will buy six gift cards on average.

The most popular gift categories this year, according to the survey, are apparel, cited by 69% of consumers, followed by music CDs and DVDs (62%); gift cards (61%); toys and games (56%); cash (51%); perfume/cologne or cosmetics and books/magazines (both 42%); jewelry (38%); consumer electronics or appliances (37%); house wares/appliances and hardware/tools (both 32%); and experiential gifts (31%).