The Easter Bunny isn’t feeling flush this year. The average consumer celebrating Easter this year will spend approximately $145.13 on candy, décor, apparel and food – the same as last year’s $145.28 – according to NRF’s 2013 Easter Spending Survey conducted by BIGinsight.

“Americans this Easter will look for special, creative ways to celebrate the holiday without breaking the bank,” said NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay. The NRF report says total spending will reach an estimated $17.2 billion, much of that going toward food for a family brunch or dinner: 86.9 percent of those celebrating Easter will spend an average of $45.26 on items needed for their holiday meal.

Clothes are another big area for spending, with nearly half (48.4 percent) planning to purchase clothing this Easter, spending an average of $25.91. In addition, slightly more than 90 percent will stock up on Easter candy, spending an average of $20.66 on jelly beans, chocolate and more. Additionally, consumers will spend an average of $20.82 on gifts, $9.49 on flowers and $9.11 on decorations.

BIGinsight consumer insights director Pam Goodfellow says cost-conscious parents will scope the sale racks, head to discounters, and clip coupons to keep spending on track while still making the holiday special for their kids.

If you want to grab some of that Easter cash, be sure your business or website can easily be found on mobile search. The survey also found that many people will use their smartphones and tablets to shop for Easter items. Four in 10 (43.3 percent) smartphone owners will use their mobile device to research product information, look up store hours and locations, compare prices and even purchase gifts and other items. Specifically, 14.8 percent said they will purchase Easter products with their smartphones. More than half (51 percent) of tablet owners will use their device to make purchases, research products and prices and look up retailer information. One in five (22.1 percent) say they will purchase something via their tablet.

Image by Flickr user WillowGardener (Creative Commons)