According to a survey of more than 8,200 American consumers, Halloween is back.
The National Retail Federation reports that spending for the holiday will hit $10.6 billion, exceeding last year’s record of $10.1 billion and finally reaching pre-pandemic levels.
Consumers plan to spend an average of 100 bucks for Halloween candy, costumes, decorations and the like, the second-highest amount ever tracked — 47% of respondents started shopping in September or earlier.
Sixty-nine percent of those polled say they’re celebrating this year — a jump from 65% in 2021 and on track with the 68% who celebrated in 2019 before COVID.
Sixty-seven percent said they’re handing out candy to trick-or-treaters this year; 51% are decorating their home and/or yard, and 47% say they’re dressing up.
One in five are dressing up their pets.
Spending on costumes alone is expected to hit $2.9 billion — the highest since 2017. Spending on pet costumes is expected to reach a record $710 million.
The most popular kids costume is Spider-Man, with 2.2 million reportedly portraying the web-slinger; nearly 2 million will dress up as their favorite princess; 1.6 million will be a witch, and 1.3 million kids will be a ghost. Ranking fifth for kids’ costumes: other superheroes.
More than 5.3 million adults say they’ll be a witch; more than 1.7 million will dress as a vampire; 1.5 million+ will be a ghost, and nearly as much will be a pirate. Tying for fifth place: more than 1.2 million adults say they’re going as a cat — the same number playing a superhero.
For pets, the most popular costumes are a pumpkin, a hot dog, a bat, a bumblebee and a witch, in that order.
Survey questions, methodology and results have not been verified or endorsed by ABC News or The Walt Disney Company.