Trick or Treating Will Cost Americans $10 Billion This Year

Spiderman. Michael Myers. Jason. Boba Fett. All of them were big on masks before it was cool and/or epidemiologically necessary.

With that in mind, Halloween is set to roar back in 2021. Americans will spend a record $10.1 billion in celebration of All Hallows’ Eve this year, the most in history according to an annual survey of 8,000 consumers by the National Retail Federation.

$100,000 Worth of 100 Grand

While the Centers for Disease Control advised Americans to steer clear of trick-or-treating last year, 58% of those surveyed said they still celebrated Halloween in 2020. Nevertheless, spending on the holiday dipped to $8 billion from $8.7 billion in 2019.

This year, 65% say they plan to celebrate, which is in line with the pre-pandemic 68% in 2019, and they’re bringing a candy budget worthy of Batman’s alter ego:

• The most money, $3.32 billion, will be spent on costumes, a 27% increase from last year and just short of the 2017 record $3.35 billion. Where spending will really go through the roof is on record decorations and candy splurges, of $3.17 billion and $3 billion respectively.
• The average consumer will spend $102.74 on costumes, candy, decorations and greeting cards for Halloween 2020, or $10 more than last year.

Peter Pans: It’s no surprise that 82% of households with children plan to celebrate Halloween, but a full 55% of households without kids are on board. Either they really love horror movies and comic books or really miss playing flip cup against Frankenstein in college.

Poor Sparky: One fifth of those surveyed said they’re going to dress up their pet for Halloween, so expect plenty of Instagram posts of distressed bulldogs shoved into plush pumpkin outfits.