Tooth Fairy Payout Tracks With S&P 500

Delta Dental says the Original Tooth Fairy Poll has tracked with the movement of Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) for 14 of the past 17 years.

The Tooth Fairy’s purse strings appear to be tighter than a year ago with the average monetary payout down by 43 cents, according to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll sponsored by Delta Dental.

 

For more stories like this, sign up for the PLANSPONSOR NEWSDash daily newsletter.

The Tooth Fairy’s average cash gift declined to $3.70 for a lost tooth, down from $4.13 one year ago. Delta Dental says the Original Tooth Fairy Poll has typically served as a good indicator of the economy’s overall direction, tracking with the movement of Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) for 14 of the past 17 years.

 

However, not all parents polled say the Tooth Fairy is following the national average. In homes that the Tooth Fairy visits, 37% give their child at least $5.00 or more. Also, a first lost tooth stands out as a more celebrated occasion, with an average of $4.96, representing $1.26 above the $3.70 average for subsequent teeth lost.

 

At $4.19, the West continues to lead U.S. regions in highest average monetary gifts for a lost tooth, but dropped 66 cents compared to a year ago ($4.85). This year, the South, at $3.91, replaces the Northeast for second-highest regional average, but slid by 21 cents when looking back a year ($4.12).

 

The average Tooth Fairy payout in the Northeast is $3.75, down 60 cents from the previous poll ($4.35). At $2.97, the Midwest represents an average of 73 cents less than the national average, and is 47 cents lower than one year ago ($3.44).

 

Nearly half (48%) of parents report that their children choose to save their Tooth Fairy Earnings.

 

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between December 31, 2018, and January 13, 2019, among a nationally representative sample of 1,058 parents of children ages 6 to 12.

«