Easter Outlook From Planalytics

Spring Revs Up Out West While the East Cools Off for Easter Week
Egg-Spect a Scramble in Consumer Trends as Weather Shifts Across Regions

The Easter holiday remains a key driver for early spring retail performance. This year, Easter falls on Sunday, April 20, later than usual, giving consumers more runway for seasonal shopping and promotional opportunities. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics, U.S. consumers are expected to spend a total of $23.6 billion on Easter this year. That’s up from $22.4 billion in 2024 and approaching the record-setting $24 billion spent in 2023. As in previous years, candy, food, and gifts remain the most popular planned purchases.

During the week leading into Easter (April 13–17), weather conditions will present a mixed bag for retail and consumer-facing businesses.

● Warmer than normal temperatures are forecast across the Western U.S., especially in interior regions. This will support strong seasonal demand for outdoor living, garden, apparel, and travel-related categories.
● Cooler-than-normal weather will dominate areas east of the Mississippi, potentially slowing demand for spring and Easter-themed items and nudging consumers toward indoor-focused products.
● A generally drier pattern is expected across much of the country, which is favorable for store and restaurant traffic, though wetter conditions are likely in the northern tier markets, where rain and snow showers may deter outings.

Heading into the Easter Weekend (April 18–20):

● Temperatures will remain elevated in the West, encouraging outdoor plans and shopping activity.
● Cool and unsettled weather will linger across the East, including key population centers, and could shift more demand toward indoor gatherings and digital channels.
● Rain and wet snow may persist in northern U.S. markets, while much of the central and southern regions trend drier.
● In Canada, western and central provinces will continue to experience warmer conditions, while eastern provinces such as Quebec and the Maritimes see a cooler pattern with scattered rain and snow.

For comparison, Easter 2024 (March 31) featured the warmest temperatures since 2021 and wettest conditions since 2022, while Canada experienced its coldest Easter since 2022 and driest since 2004.

We encourage you to monitor your daily Planalytics Alerts and WeatherVue updates to stay aligned with daily shifts that may impact your business. For additional information or questions, contact Planalytics to speak with a member of our team.