Halloween Spending Will Hit a Document $13.5 Billion, Regardless of Scary Sweet Costs
A new survey says shoppers are spending more than ever on the holiday, but they’re getting a lot less bang for their buck in the candy aisle.
Americans are expected to spend a record $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, even as higher prices and inflation worries push more shoppers to hunt for bargains to stretch their holiday budgets.
The National Retail Federation’s 2026 forecast predicts spending will top last year’s record of $13.1 billion. That works out to an average of $115.14 per person, roughly in line with $114.45 in 2025.
About 74 percent of consumers plan to celebrate
About 74 percent of consumers plan to celebrate Halloween this year, says the world’s largest retail trade association, compared with 73 percent last year and 68 percent in 2019.
“Consumers continue to make Halloween a spending priority, but they are also approaching the season with affordability in mind,” Allison Zeller, the NRF’s vice president of industry and consumer insights, said in a press release detailing the group’s findings.
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“For more than two decades, NRF’s Halloween survey has tracked how consumers celebrate the holiday,” she added, “and this year’s results show that shoppers are being thoughtful and strategic, looking for ways to maximize value throughout the season.”
That focus on value is influencing both when
That focus on value is influencing both when and where everyone begins preparing for the spooky season. Nearly half of consumers, 49 percent, said they planned to start Halloween shopping in September or earlier, up from the 34 percent who said they were eager to get the party started a decade ago.
Among those early birds, 23 percent say getting a jump on the season allows them to spread out their budgets, while 21 percent cited the lure of attractive prices and promotions.
Source: www.inc.com
