Celebrating Halloween this year is big business. Americans are expected to spend a record $12.2 billion to prepare for trick-or-treaters, according to the National Retail Federation. Here are the numbers behind the Halloween season in this week’s Five For Friday.
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#5: Spooky Spending
More Americans than ever — nearly 3 out of 4 — will celebrate Halloween festivities this year. The average bill is expected to come in at $108.24 per person, up from $100.45 in 2022, according to the NRF.
The majority of gory goods are bought at discount stores, followed by specialty stores and then online retailers. Local businesses aren’t getting much love, while a tiny percent say they are still shopping via catalog.
#4: Devious Decorations
People who go all out on Halloween decorations brighten up (or haunt up) the neighborhood, and 77% of people who do celebrate the season will purchase some sort of decorations, according to the NRF. Decorations as a whole are a $3.9 billion business this year.
The most iconic decoration is the jack-o-lantern and pumpkins alone will pull in $843.6 million this year, according to Finder. The average decorator spends just $31.93 getting their home all set, but you can see who is spending more. ABC has an entire show dedicated to homeowners who go the extra mile. Hopefully, their neighbors are into haunts because some of this stuff looks like it belongs in Hollywood instead of your neighborhood.
#3: Sinister Sweets
Not everyone decorates but nearly everyone purchases candy to the tune of an estimated $3.6 billion this year. Reese’s Peanut Butter cups are the most popular candy nationwide, according to Instacart. Peanut M&M’s and Regular M&M’s round out the top three.
Candy corn comes in at No. 8, but if you plan on giving it to trick-or-treaters you might as well turn off the light and think of a new strategy for next year. It’s like those people who hand out toothbrushes; which, to be honest, are needed after all the Laffy Taffy the kids get on All Hallow’s Eve.
#2: Creepy Costumes
Costumes may cause the most sticker shock leading up to Halloween. These disguises are expected to cost $4.1 billion this year, up $500,000 from last year‘s total.
The most popular adult costume is a witch, according to the NRF. Google Trends FrieghtGeist, on the other hand, has Barbie at the top of its list this year. Wednesday Addams and Princess Peach of Super Mario Bros. fame are also up there with the classics, like cowboys and devils. Topping the kids’ costume list is Spider-Man, followed closely by a princess. It’s all adorable.
#1: Petrifying Pets
There’s nothing scary about a cute little animal in a costume. Pet costumes will account for roughly $700 million in Halloween spending this year, the NRF said. The most popular costumes include a pumpkin, hot dog, bat, bumblebee and spider. That said, these Shih Tzus in Chucky costumes are some of the best.
People get so excited about dressed-up pets, New York City’s Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade drew in 15,000 humans and 600 pets this year, despite facing financial uncertainty just weeks before. Dog folks say cats aren’t as cuddly, but this feline in a pirate costume is a lot better than Jared Leto in a cat costume.
It’s Halloween. It’s filled with tricks and treats and can you believe people will spend a frightful $12.2 billion this year! We’ve got the numbers behind this spooky spending in this week’s Five For Friday.
About three out of every four people get hyped for hallowed festivities and the average ghoul will spend just over $108 bucks this year according to the National Retail Federation. The majority get their gory goods at discount stores, followed by specialty halloween stores and then online retailers like Amazon. Sadly local businesses don’t get much love, while an even smaller percent are still shopping via catalog?
Three fourths of those who celebrate go ham on the halloween decorating, making it a $3.9 billion business this year, according to the NRF. Americans will spend nearly $850 million on pumpkins alone, according to Finder. The average person spends just shy of 32 bucks outfitting their home, but we know the ones to go to who spend a whole lot more. ABC has a whole show dedicated to these hair-raising homeowners. I hope their neighbors are into haunts, some of this stuff looks far more suited for Disney than your cul-de-sac.
Not everyone decorates, but nearly everyone buys candy, $3.6 billion this year alone. Instacart says Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are the most popular candy nationwide followed by Peanut and Regular M&Ms. If you’re handing out Candy Corn just turn off your light and get a jump on next year. You might as well hand out a toothbrush, which to be honest, we all need All Hallow’s Eve. I don’t have the research on this, but I’m thinking half the candy gets eaten before the kiddos ever knock on the door.
Costumes obviously catch a terrifying amount of cash. It’s expected to hit $4.1 billion this year, up half a billion from last year. The NRF says witch is the most popular adult costume for 2023. But Google Trends FreightGeist has Barbie at the top of the list. She’s having a year. Wednesday Addams and Princess Peach are also up there with standard fare like cowboys and devils. For kids Spider-Man comes out on top with Princess trailing closely. That’s just adorable.
Speaking of adorable. Let’s turn those AHHHs to AWWWs. Pet costumes account for roughly $700 million in Halloween spending this year. The most pupular costumes include a pumpkin, hot dog, bat, bumblebee and spider. But these little Chuckies are some of my favorites. New York’s Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade drew 15,000 humans and 600 little guys and gals this year. I don’t love giving cats any time, but this cat in a pirate costume is pretty good. It sure beats Jared Leto in a Cat Costume.
Where’s the best zip codes in the country to get your fright on? Instacart gives Lehi, Utah, the top scare score, with Dallas close behind. Happy Halloween! That’s Five for Friday. I’m Simone Del Rosario. It’s Just Business.
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