Aug 8, 2007 6:03 AM, PROMO P&I

Some 81% of people prefer gift cards as a birthday gifts, according to a recent survey.

The survey, by Cardways.com, an online gift card and greeting card company, found that nearly 90% of people say the primary reason for buying gift cards is the desire to give the recipient what they want. Some 55% of consumers buy gift cards to avoid concern about the gift’s color or size.

Of the 81% of people who chose gift cards for birthdays, people ages 35 to 54 favor them most, with women preferring the cards more than men across all age groups, the survey found.

Gift card sales in the U.S. reached $80 billion in 2006, according to financial research and advisory firm TowerGroup.

Electronics ranked second as top gifting giving items for men, followed by tickets to a show or sport event, the survey found.

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