Americans Expected to Spend More Than $12 Billion on Halloween This Year (2024)

The scariest thing about Halloween this year may be inflation.

Be prepared to spend more on spooky season this year, as inflation is making your favorite Halloween staples more expensive, according to an analysis of data from the National Retail Federation (NRF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Consumer Price Index by Investopedia.

Halloween spending is expected to reach a fresh record of $12.2 billion in 2023, surpassing last year's $10.6 billion, according to a survey by the NRF. Consumers plan to spend $108.24 each on Halloween this year—the highest the NRF has reported.

The priciest item on the list was costumes, with the average price at $32.49. The average shopper expects to spend $36.84 on their Halloween costume—9.2% more than in 2022.

If you tend to go all out on Halloween decorations, that's going to cost you more, too. Halloween decor was the next most expensive item on our list, costing an average $19.42.

Spending on decorations is up 9% since last year, with the average person paying about $34.76 for items such as party supplies, inflatables, and indoor and outdoor decorations. Pumpkins are 5% pricier than they were last year, too, and will cost an average of $5.58 each.

Consumers Expect to Spend Nearly as Much on Halloween Candy as Costumes

Perhaps the most important part of the holiday, candy is 7.5% more expensive than in 2022. The average person will likely spend $31.93 on Halloween candy this year, according to our analysis.

Inflation continues to burn hot, making the prices of everyday items such as groceries and utilities more expensive. Inflation rose 0.4% on a monthly basis in September and increased 3.7% from September 2022.

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