Anticipation is high for the spookiest night of the year. Nearly 7 out of 10 Americans plan to take part in the festivities this October, putting Halloween participation rates on par with pre-pandemic levels. Not only do people intend to come out in droves, but they’re going all out by spending more on candy, costumes, decorations, and pumpkins than ever before. Estimates put Halloween 2023 spending at a new billion-dollar record.
How much does America spend on Halloween? What are Halloween shoppers spending the most money on? Find out and see how your Halloween Spending compares – if you dare.
U.S. Halloween spending statistics
Halloween 2023 spending will reach an all-time high of $12.2 billion according to the National Retail Foundation, a major jump from the $10.6 billion spent in 2023 and a massive increase from the $8 billion spent in 2020.
What are Americans buying for Halloween?
The percentages of those buying candy, decorations, costumes, and greeting cards are pretty similar to last year’s Halloween spending trends (Americans in 2022 are actually buying slightly less than last year).
- 96% are buying candy
- 77% are buying decorations
- 69% are buying costumes (includes kids and pet costumes)
- 35% are buying greeting cards
Average household Halloween spending
The expected average Halloween spending per household jumped from 2022 levels to a new record high in 2023. This year, it’s estimated that Americans will spend an average of $108 on ghoulish preparations, up from the average $100 the year prior. Here’s the breakdown of those average costs per household:
- Candy: $31.93
- Decorations: $34.76
- Costumes: $36.84
- Greeting cards: $4.71
Per-Person Halloween Spending tops $108 This Year
2021 was historic for Halloween spending because it was the first year per-person spending pushed past the $100 mark. This year, celebrants are set to spend an average of $108.24 on Halloween festivities, totaling approximately $12.2 billion in sales — the highest in recorded history.
Shrinkflation
Americans may find that there’s more ‘trick’ than ‘treat’ in their Halloween candy hauls this year, as shrinkflation, the sneaky way manufacturers seemingly keep prices the same but actually give you less product, makes its way to the sweets aisle. Halloween costs across all categories are continuing to trend upwards – and are unlikely to come back down. Fortunately, there are a few things Halloween shoppers can do to save money.
Check Out Our Halloween Infographic
Bonus: there are campaign strategies, tricks, and treats at the bottom of this sucker!
Source: The Shelf https://www.theshelf.com/the-blog/halloween-infographic/
