CASSIDY HERMAN
Special to the Leader
Do you feel like you’re spending too much money on your costumes and candy? Recent studies have shown that you probably are.
The National Retail Federation has been conducting its annual Halloween survey since 2003 to see how Americans will celebrate the holiday.
The total spending for Halloween is expected to reach $9 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation. Celebrants are planning to spend an average of $86.79 on various spooky supplies. The average amount spent last year was $86.13. Last year 175 million people participated in Halloween. 179 million Americans are planning to partake in Halloween festivities this year.
According to the National Retail Federation’s report, about 69 percent of respondents said they plan to purchase or make a costume this Halloween.
The No. 1 costume choice for adults this year, according to the report, is a witch. The number one costume choice for children is an action hero. Pets will also be in the mix of dressed-up participants. Topping the list of costume ideas for pets this Halloween is a pumpkin.
USA Today reported Americans are expected to spend nearly $3.4 billion on their Halloween costumes. It also said that men will spend $96 on average, while women will spend around $77.
“I have spent about $70 dollars on my costume. I’ve also bought way too much candy, but I’m not sure how much that was,” said Karli Murray, a Fredonia student.
Candy is another huge part of Halloween, of course. The NRF shows that people will spend $2.7 billion on candy alone. According to the organization’s survey, an astonishing 95 percent of respondents say they plan to purchase candy, for themselves and to share on Halloween night. The average amount of candy a person will buy is close to $17.
“We usually have candy in our dorm, but we never have this much. I think I bought more because they’re the Halloween editions,” said Murray.
Fredonia students are known to go all-out when it comes to getting their dorms or apartments into the Halloween spirit.
“I put up so many decorations around my dorm,” said Maddy O’Heir. “I have a ghost door cover on my door, two pumpkins in the room, I have Halloween lights and I have a spooky tablecloth.”
The NRF says that about 72 percent of people celebrating Halloween will purchase decorations for their home this year. More specifically, it said that people will spend close to $2.7 billion on home decor. Americans could even spend an average of $37 on decorations.
“I have definitely spent more than $30 on decorations. I have four pumpkins in my room right now and they were $5 each, and that’s just the pumpkins,” said Murray.
You may not be into the greeting card style of communications, but some people are. This year consumers will likely spend around $400 million just on Halloween cards.
Of course, you don’t have to spend that much money on Halloween this year. You could make your costume at home, look up some DIY decorations and if you don’t want to make your own card, find one at a dollar store.