The Daily Stat: Americans Carrying Around Big Money in Unused Gift Cards

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile DECEMBER 26, 2012 Americans Carrying Around Big Money in Unused Gift Cards The typical American home holds an average of $300 in unredeemed gift cards, according to an estimate reported by Rocky B. Cummings and Joseph Carr in the Journal of State Taxation. These cards are often misplaced, accidentally thrown out, or only partially redeemed. Between 2005 and 2011, $41 billion in gift cards went unused, the authors say. But retailers don't always benefit: Many states require issuers to report unclaimed balances as abandoned property after a prescribed period of time. Source: Holiday Gift Card Season is Upon Us—Has Your State Been Naughty or Nice? Share Today's Stat: FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide to Networking HBR Press Book Hate the idea of schmoozing? Most of us feel that way. But you don't have to be slick and indiscriminate to create and sustain a strong network. This guide will give you the tools and confidence you need to draw on others' expertise, scope out business opportunities, and land coveted roles. Also of Interest: • HBR Guide to Project Management • HBR Guide to Getting the Right Job • HBR Guide to Managing Stress • HBR Guide to Finance Basics for Managers ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Stat: BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done PREVIOUS STATS Why Christmas Became the Time for Weddings in Sweden South Korea's Mass Pardons of Traffic Offenders Led to More Accidents Will Falling Rates of Driving Lead to Lower Obesity? A Patent for a Clever Idea That Changed Everything Showroomers Aren't Loyal to Stores Where They Browse Men Prefer Aisle Seats on Planes; Women Like Windows Year by Year, We're All Getting a Little Smarter Electric Cars Cost a Lot and Reduce Carbon Very Little Criminals Are More Likely to Target You If You're Seen as Socially Deviant Hackers Make a Killing by Locking PCs and Demanding Money Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "The Daily Stat" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)