Halloween spending gets a spooky boost

By Scott Nicholson

nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

Halloween is not only a time of spooks and sweets and tricks or treats, it’s a season of spending.

The National Retail Federation said the average consumer will spend $59 on Halloween, a jump of $11 over last year. Halloween is the second-largest home decoration holiday and ranks sixth in holiday season spending, behind Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

Nearly two-thirds of all consumers will observe some sort of Halloween or harvest celebration, according to an NRF survey. Because Halloween is not a “gift-giving” holiday, most of the spending goes to costumes, candy and decorations.

Matt Scott, owner of Higher Grounds coffee shop in Boone, said he puts up some store decorations and will give out rubber eyeballs on Halloween. He estimated that, as a father of two, he would spend about $15 on candy and $20 on costumes. “My wife is creative and makes the costumes, so it takes more time than money,” he said.

Alaina Gross said she planned to dress as Michael Myers, the serial killer from the “Halloween” movie franchise.

She expects to spend about $20 on the holiday, though she will make most of her own costume. She also plans to put some decorations on her door to let trick-or-treaters know they are welcome.

“It won’t be much, just something to let the kids know that it’s safe to come to our house,” Gross said. “I love seeing the trick-or-treaters. It’s the theatre in me.”

Nearly three-fourths of all Americans will give out candy this year and a third will dress in costumes. The annual NRF survey showed more young adults and middle-aged people participate in the festivities, with 96 percent of consumers buying nearly $20 worth of candy each. Overall, Americans will spend nearly $5 billion on Halloween.

Rena Perez, mother of two, said she plans to spend “less than $100” on the holiday, having already bought a spider decoration for her yard. She will be purchasing Spiderman and Power Rangers costumes for her children, whom she plans to take trick-or-treating.

The survey also said 43 percent of Americans will carve a pumpkin, 30 percent will host or attend a party, and 17 percent will visit a haunted house. Spooky decorating and dress-up is not subject to stereotypes, either; on average, men will spend $12 more on the holiday than women will.