Once again, Americans are looking forward to their favorite candy, costumes, and decorations during the upcoming Halloween season, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual survey, conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics. Total retail Halloween spending is expected to reach $9 billion this year. Last year’s spending was $9.1 billion. Here are some highlights from the survey:


175 million | Number of Americans planning to partake in Halloween festivities
$86.79 | Average amount of spending by each of those Halloween celebrants

According to the survey, this is how much celebrants will spend on various Halloween items (and the percentage of celebrants purchasing something from that category).

$3.2 billion (68%) | Costumes
$2.7 billion (74%) | Decorations
$2.6 billion (95%) | Candy
$400 million (35%) | Greeting cards

 

Annual Traditions

70% | Hand out candy
50% | Decorate their home or yard,
48% | Wear costumes,
45% | Carve a pumpkin,
32% | Throw or attend a party,
30% | Take their children trick-or-treating,
21% | Visit a haunted house and
18% | Dress pets in costumes.

Pet costumes continue to gain popularity,

20% (up from 16% last year) | Percentage of Halloween celebrants who dress their pets in costumes this year
31.3 million | Estimate of Americans planning to dress their pets in costumes

Where celebrants get inspiration for the perfect costume

35% | Online
29% | Stores
19% | Ask friends and family
19% | Look on Pinterest
16% ! Look on Facebook
16% | Influenced by pop culture
15% | YouTube

Where celebrants will purchase costumes and other Halloween supplies

45% | Discount stores
35% | Specialty Halloween store or costume store
25% | Department stores
24% | Online
24% | Grocery/supermarket stores

Estimate of Children Wearing These Costumes

3.8 million | Children who plan to dress as their favorite princess
2.5 million | Favorite superhero
2.2 million | Batman character
1.9 million | Star Wars character
1.9 million | Witch

Top 11 Child Costumes

#10 | Frozen (Elsa, Anna)
#9 | Pirate
#8 | Ghost
#7 | Avengers character (Excpt Spider-Man)
#6 | Spider-Man
#5 | Witch
#4 | Star Wars character
#3 | Batman
#2 | Superhero
#1 | Princess

Estimate of Adults Wearing These Costumes

7.2 million | Witches
2.5 million | Vampires
2.1 million | Zombies
1.9 million | Pirates
1.3 million | Avenger characters

Top 11 Adult Costumes

#11 | Wonder Woman
#10 | Clown
#9 | Superhero
#8 | Ghost
#7 | Star Wars character|
#6 | Batman
#5 | Avengers character (excluding Spider-Man)
#4 | Pirate
#3 | Zombie
#2 | Vampire
#1 | Witch

Top Ten Pet Costumes

#10 | Ghost
 #9 |  Superhero
 #8 | Star Wars
 #7 | Lion
 #6 | Dog
 #5 | Cat
 #4 | Devil
 #3 | Bumblebee
 #2 | Hotdog
 #1 | Pumpkin

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