Gift card sales totaled $97 billion in 2007, up from $83 billion in 2006, according to data from The Tower Group cited in The New York Times.

If you think you’re seeing more gift cards for sale every year, you’re right.

Gift card sales totaled $97 billion in 2007, up from $83 billion in 2006, according to data from The Tower Group cited in The New York Times.

Less attention has been given to "breakage," which is the money
retailers get when gift cards are not used or leftover funds remain.
Tower put that amount at $7.8 billion in 2007.

However, breakage is drawing notice from some state governments.

Maine takes 60% of the value of unused gift cards under the state’s unclaimed property laws.

Via eMarketer