As the fall season ushers in cooler temperatures and shorter days, it also marks the arrival of one of the most anticipated and celebrated holidays of the year: Halloween. Whether spending a night out trick-or-treating with friends, dressing up in costume for work, or simply decorating the house, Halloween in the U.S. offers something for nearly every age group.
According to data from the National Retail Federation (NRF), a staggering 73% of Americans plan to participate in Halloween-related activities this year, up from 69% in 2022. And with these levels of participation, it comes as no surprise that the holiday serves as a substantial economic driver for U.S. retail, ranking among the foremost shopping events of the year.
Americans are projected to spend over $12 billion in 2023 on Halloween, a number that has risen significantly over the past several years even after adjusting for inflation. For context, in 2005, Americans spent $3.3 billion (or an inflation-adjusted $5.2 billion in 2023 dollars). On a per-household basis, this equates to the average American household spending nearly $110 this year in preparation for October 31st.
The largest spending categories for Halloween festivities are costumes, decorations, candy, and greeting cards. In 2023, the NRF projects Americans will spend a total of $4.1 billion (34% of total) on costumes, $3.9 billion (32% of total) on decorations, $3.6 billion (30% of total) on candy, and approximately $500 million (4% of total) on greeting cards. Interestingly, within the costume category, Americans typically spend more on costumes for adults than on costumes for kids. Adult costumes account for nearly half of costume spending, while costumes for children and pets represent just 34% and 17%, respectively.
Just as certain radio stations begin airing Christmas music before Thanksgiving, certain Americans start prepping for Halloween long before October. According to data from Google…
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