Halloween spending will hit a record $13.1 billion this year, per the National Retail Federation (NRF). That’s up nearly 12% YoY, and well above the previous record of $12.2 billion in 2023. The healthy increase in Halloween spending reflects consumers’ growing excitement around the holiday, and retailers’ concerted efforts to cater to it. At a difficult time for retail spending, companies should take note of shoppers’ willingness to spend big on items that get them into the holiday spirit, and carry that enthusiasm forward in their assortments and messaging for the rest of the year.

Consumers are starting their Halloween shopping earlier, but they are expected to spend slightly less than last year, indicating that while excitement is high, consumers are more budget-conscious. Retailers can capture this early and cautious spending by offering competitive prices, prioritizing in-store promotions, and creating a one-stop Halloween shopping destination.

As consumers become increasingly cost-cautious, competition for dollars is fierce. Halloween costumes, decor, and party supplies may not be a top shopping priority, but specialty retailers such as Spirit Halloween still find a way to engage consumers and attract their dollars.

Inflation remains high. So does consumer spending. On this week’s Halloween episode of “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail,” our analysts looked at a few silly and even spooky indexes for evaluating consumer behavior during times of economic constraint.

Participation in Halloween activities will be back up to pre-pandemic levels this year, with 69% of consumers planning to celebrate (up from 65% last year and 68% in 2019), according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

After mostly missing out on a year of holiday fun, data shows that US consumers are excited to get back into the swing of things this year.

Singles’ Day is the world’s biggest shopping event, and Black Friday is just around the corner. Holiday shopping is a major driver of retail and ecommerce around the world, but spending and which holidays drive the most activity vary by region.