Rising travel costs mean people won’t make the journey home
Thousands of people won’t be making the trip home to see mum this year, with rising travel costs, packed schedules and distance keeping families apart, according to research from Interflora. Over a third say they live too far away to make the trip home to mum and seven per cent can’t afford the travel home due to rising rail fares or fuel costs.
The RAC’s head of policy said on Wednesday that diesel prices have already risen by nearly 9% since February 28. Meanwhile, petrol prices are on average 6% more across the same period, RAC Fuel Watch said.
Almost a fifth of people didn’t see their mum last year and some haven’t celebrated Mother’s Day with their mum or stepmum for up to 10 years. A third will give their mum a phone or video call on March 15, and 30% will send a gift or flowers in lieu of a visit.
Interflora says that in 2025, its website saw a 395% week on week increase in people ordering flowers the day before Mother’s Day compared to the previous Saturday. And customers are increasingly adding messages such as ‘Sorry We Can’t Be There’.
“There’s no substitute for being able to meet up in person, but while many people would love to spend Mother’s Day together, that’s not always possible especially with families navigating busier lives and tighter budgets,” said Bethany Day, Brand Manager at Interflora. “What we’re seeing is that connection doesn’t disappear, it simply finds another way.”
