Halloween 2014: More than 2/3 of Us Are Buying Costumes

Written by Lanning Taliaferro

Total spending on Halloween this year will reach $7.4 billion, the National Retail Federation predicts in its annual Halloween Consumer Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

That’s more than last year but still lower than the $8 billion in 2012.

“There’s no question that the variety of adult, child and even pet costumes now available has driven the demand and popularity of Halloween among consumers of all ages,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay says. “And, with the holiday falling on a Friday this year, we fully expect there will be a record number of consumers taking to the streets, visiting haunted houses and throwing unforgettable celebrations.”

More than two-thirds (67.4%) of celebrants will buy Halloween costumes for the holiday, the most in the survey’s 11-year history.

In fact, Americans will spend $350 million just on costumes for their pets.

While the bulk of Americans will look for costume inspiration online (34.2%) or in a retail store or costume shop (33%), Pinterest is a growing source of inspiration this year. The survey found 11.4 percent of Americans will turn to Pinterest for costume ideas, up from 9.3 percent last year. Young adults will drive the most Pinterest traffic: 21.2 percent of 18-24 year olds will turn to the popular site for ideas, as will 21.0 percent of 25-34 year olds.

Will you dress your pet, your kids, yourself in costume? Share a photo in the comments or share through Instagram at #TarrytownPatch