Tooth Fairy Cost Cutting Points to Still Struggling Economy

CREDIT: Child Losing Tooth via Shutterstock View full size image

Some people might look to the Dow Jones industrial average or the state of local business to figure out where the economy is headed, but a poll released this week indicates they need look no further than their kids' bedrooms. More specifically, under their children's pillows. That is because, according to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll, the average gift from the Tooth Fairy in the past year was $2.10, down 42 cents from the previous year.

That change from the 2010 average of $2.52 per baby tooth represents a 17 percent drop, one of the largest since the poll was started in 1998. It came as the stock market remained mainly stagnant over the course of 2011, before finishing the year on an upswing.    

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The Delta Dental Plans Association conducted the survey of 1,355 parents.

"Like many Americans, the Tooth Fairy needed to tighten her belt in 2011, but she's hopeful for a recovery this year," said Chris Pyle, speaking for the nonprofit industry group. “Like the Tooth Fairy, we at Delta Dental are hopeful for better economic news in 2012.”

Delta Dental found that the most common gift amount from the Tooth Fairy was $1. 

The poll also found that children can expect more money from the Tooth Fairy after losing their first tooth.  Overall, 90 percent of those surveyed said their children still get visits from the Tooth Fairy. 

This story was provided by BusinessNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience. Reach BusinessNewsDaily staff writer David Mielach at Dmielach@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @D_M89.