Even with rampant concerns about a lackluster holiday shopping season this year, retailers appear to be in for happy Halloween next month, a recent survey showed.
The average person plans to spend $64.82 on the holiday, up nearly 10 percent from the $59.06 they spent a year ago, according to the National Retail Federation’s Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch.
Total spending on Halloween this year, including candy, costumes and decorations, is expected to reach $5.07 billion, says the NRF.
The average ghoul will spend $23.33 on Halloween costumes, including those for children and pets, because we all know how much Fluffy loves being dressed up like a pumpkin so you can take his picture.
Young adults will spend the most - 18 to 24 year olds will spend $34.06 on costumes, nearly twice as much as the $19.65 they’ll spend on candy. Average spending is expected to rise in all categories to $19.84 on candy, $17.73 on decorations and $3.92 on greeting cards.
Also, nearly three-fourths of consumers said they plan to stay at home and hand out sugar-laden treats to children. More than 43 percent said they’d be carving a pumpkin, almost 48 percent will be decorating the home and yard, and 28 percent will be throwing a Halloween party.
The National Retail Federation is the world’s largest retail trade association.

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I still have a witch mask from several years ago. It still scares the He– out of the kids. It is all about the kids, not the parents or the PETS.
- Posted by OD Bigg DoggFrom a Halloween retailer’s perspective, this season has been a little slow to start, but now we’re moving things like gangbusters. It’s great to see these stats, as they echo the kinds of sales we’re seeing at HalloweenMart. Pirate costumes and superhero costumes have been especially big!
- Posted by Carrie Sheerin