Reference page
U.S. Halloween shopping statistics
Verified spending, participation, timing, and shopping-channel data for writers, retailers, and spooky people who enjoy a good number.
Last updated September 15, 2026
The big picture
Halloween is a full shopping season.
These figures bring together the latest complete U.S. Halloween consumer survey and an early 2026 shopping update from the National Retail Federation. The next full annual survey is expected later in September.
$13.1B
Expected U.S. Halloween spending in 2025
The National Retail Federation projected a record $13.1 billion in Halloween spending, up from $11.6 billion in 2024.
Source: NRF consumer survey, September 18, 202573%
Of consumers planned to celebrate
Nearly three in four consumers said they planned to take part in Halloween activities and traditions.
Source: NRF consumer survey, September 18, 2025$114.45
Average planned spend per person
The planned per-person spend reached a record high, nearly $11 above the prior year.
Source: NRF consumer survey, September 18, 2025$4.3B
Expected costume spending
Seventy-one percent of consumers planned to buy costumes, with adult costumes alone expected to account for $2 billion.
Source: NRF consumer survey, September 18, 2025$4.2B
Expected decoration spending
Seventy-eight percent of consumers planned to buy decorations, up from 75% the year before.
Source: NRF consumer survey, September 18, 2025$3.9B
Expected candy spending
Candy remained the most popular Halloween purchase category in the survey.
Source: NRF consumer survey, September 18, 202549%
Started shopping by September
Nearly half of shoppers began buying Halloween items in September or earlier.
Source: NRF consumer survey, September 18, 202531%
Planned to shop online
Online shopping tied specialty Halloween and costume stores as the second-most common purchase destination.
Source: NRF consumer survey, September 18, 20251 in 4
Had bought a Halloween item by early August 2026
NRF's early-season update shows Halloween buying is already underway before the traditional fall shopping rush.
Source: NRF Halloween Data and Trends, September 1, 2026What the numbers say
The spooky shopping window starts early.
Halloween spending reaches beyond costumes. Decorations, candy, graphic apparel, party supplies, and everyday seasonal finds all compete for attention well before October arrives.
For independent shops, the useful takeaway is timing: shoppers are looking before the last-minute rush, and they are finding ideas both online and in stores. A distinctive point of view gives them something more memorable than a generic pumpkin pile.
Shop Halloween StylesMethodology and sources
How to use these numbers
This page reports figures as published by the National Retail Federation. The 2025 survey was conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics from September 2 through September 9, 2025, among 8,045 consumers. NRF reports a plus or minus 1.1 percentage-point margin of error.
- NRF Consumer Survey Finds Halloween Spending to Reach Record $13.1 Billion, September 18, 2025
- NRF Halloween Data and Trends, September 1, 2026
Cite this page
Whiskey Witch Boutique. “U.S. Halloween Shopping Statistics: 2025 Spending Data and 2026 Trends.” Updated September 15, 2026.
Link to the relevant statistic above using its heading, for example Expected U.S. Halloween spending in 2025.