The numbers do the talking here. Check these out, courtesy of the California Women’s Conference and its executive director — business acceleration expert and corporate CEO Michelle Patterson.

• American women constitute the number three market in the world with collective buying power that exceeds the economy of Japan
• Women account for 85% of all consumer purchases, including the following: 91% of new homes, 80% of health care spending, 66% of personal computers and 65% of new cars
• Women are launching their own businesses at twice the rate of men
• Over the next decade, women will be the beneficiaries of the largest transference of wealth in the United States’ history. Estimates range from $12 trillion to $40 trillion. Many Boomer women will experience a double inheritance, from both their parents and husbands

What more is there to say? I can’t verify all the numbers above, but the point is that female purchasing power and economic influence are at higher levels than ever.