Candy, Costumes, and Cash

Jack Johnston
Oct 27, 2024
3 min read

By: Marissa Miczek

Statista.com reported that US consumers spent roughly 3.6 billion dollars on US candy during the 2023 Halloween Season. If you were to stack $3.6 billion in $100 bills that would be more than twice the height of Mount Everest. If you put $100 side by side you would cover around 720 football fields. If you spent the money on Lamborghini Aventadors then you would be looking at more than 6,000 of them. This is just for the candy alone!

Let’s back up a bit. Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31st. This dates back to about 2,000 years ago on November 1st when the Celts, a collection of tribes with origins in central Europe, celebrated their new year. This day marked a transition from the blissful, sunny summer days of harvest to cold winters. It was believed that on the night of October 31st, the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. While these ghosts damaged the crops and caused trouble, Celts thought that they made it easier for the priests to predict the future. Samhain was thus born, a celebration with bonfires and Celts in costumes made from animal heads and skins. By A.D. 43, the Roman Empire had conquered the area and the tradition gradually evolved into what we now know as Halloween. It’s become a celebration with trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, costume parties, and more! Be sure to check out the links at the bottom of this article to learn more about what you can do this season.

According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween candy spending should hit $3.5 billion this year with overall Halloween spending at around $12.2 billion. While it may not be something you consider, certain candy is more expensive than others with 3 Musketeers and Milky Way at the top of the list. Typically however consumers buy big bags in bulk but regardless it’s a big boost to many industries of the economy.

With costumes ranging from $20 to $200, spending easily reaches around $3.8 billion each year. A great way to cut back on costume spending is to get creative and use the clothes and materials you have at home! Check out the links at the bottom of the article to make a DIY costume. If you plan on purchasing a costume the question is will you purchase online or at a store? Seasonal retailers, like Spirit Halloween, are known to have abandoned storefronts until Halloween comes around the corner. However some stores like Party City are actually open year round!

Whether you or your family spend on costumes, candy, decorations, or pumpkins, the season helps to jump-start economic activity and boost GDP. Candy companies and pumpkin growers plan for this holiday to deliver only the best to its customers! Remember to not spend too much on Halloween because Thanksgiving is only in a month and Christmas will be here before you know it. Have a spooky and fun Halloween and remember that it is never too late to go trick-or-treating! Convince a friend, grab a group, and get some candy or at least have a party. Happy Halloween!