Did you know?: Halloween 2012 expected to be biggest spending year since 2005

Published 3:38 pm Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Halloween 2012 is anticipated to be a record retail spending year.

According to the results of a survey conducted on behalf of the National Retail Federation by BIGinsight, seven of 10 Americans will celebrate the holiday, for an estimated 170 million. Consumers are expected to spend an average of $79.82 on costumes candy, decorations and greeting cards, up from $72.31 in 2011.

In 2005, the earliest year directly compatible data was available, only 52.5 percent of responders said they would celebrate Halloween. Those people estimated they would spend an average $48.48.

That makes for a combined spending total of $8 billion in 2012 compared against $3.29 billion in 2005.

An average $28.65 of the average 2012 amount will be spent on a costume. Most respondents —35.7 percent—said they would pick their costume while browsing a store.

More than half of surveyed consumers will decorate their home.

Despite the estimated increase in spending, more than a quarter of respondents said the economy would impact their Halloween plans. That portion is down from 32.1 percent in 2011, and 29.6 percent in 2009, the first year BIGinsight asked.