Trick or Treat
This is Halloween, and regardless of how you feel about the day, it’s going to be an expensive one.
The National Retail Federation’s annual consumer survey says Halloween spending will reach a record $13.1 billion this year…up significantly from $11.6 billion last year, and well above the record set in 2023 of $12.2 billion.
Nearly three-quarters of consumers, 73 percent, say they’ll celebrate the holiday. The top activity—handing out candy, which two-thirds of us will do. Just more than half—51 percent—say they’ll dress up in costume, with that same number saying they’ll decorate their home or yard. And nearly half—46 percent—will turn a common pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern.
I’m a little disturbed by the fact that 23 percent of consumers say they’ll dress up their pets. Maybe it’s just my life experience, but I don’t think your pet wants to put on a costume so you can post it online.
Let’s go back to candy…total spending on treats will be close to $4 billion. Even more money–$4.3 billion—will be spent on costumes. Decorations generally will account for yet another $4.2 billion of consumer spending in the U.S.
Per-person spending on Halloween, therefore, is at a record high of $114.45. Since I am literally spending zero…to balance things out, someone is easily surpassing $200.
And in another sign that we need to pay attention to the calendar…a record number of consumers, 49 percent, say they started shopping for Halloween-related items before the month of October began.
But if you’re a last minute person, just know that the top costumes for children appear to be Spider-Man, a princess, and a witch…while the top costumes for adults are witches, vampires and pirates. Oh, and even more money is spent on adult costumes than children’s costumes.
The top costume for pets is forcing them to go as a pumpkin. Talk about cruelty to animals.
So you all enjoy this holiday, by far my least favorite. At least we have leftover candy from last Saturday’s downtown Waterloo business trick-or-treat event. That’s an aspect of Halloween I can definitely support.
