A seasonal reference
Halloween shopping statistics.
Clear, citable U.S. figures on how people plan, shop, dress up and decorate for Halloween.
Last reviewed August 25, 2026. Figures below are from the National Retail Federation's 2024 consumer survey.
At a glance
The numbers behind a very big season.
Halloween is a long shopping season, not just one night. The figures below bring together the clearest national measures of planned spending and buying habits, with a source attached to every number. They are useful for writers, retailers, event planners and anyone looking for a dependable snapshot of U.S. Halloween shopping.
Key figures
U.S. Halloween shopping, 2024.
$11.6B
expected U.S. Halloween spending
National Retail Federation's 2024 survey projected a record total for Halloween-related spending.
Source: National Retail Federation, 2024 Halloween Spending Survey. Survey year: 2024.
72%
of consumers planned to celebrate
Nearly three in four surveyed consumers said they expected to take part in Halloween activities.
Source: National Retail Federation, 2024 Halloween Spending Survey. Survey year: 2024.
$103.63
planned spend per person
This was the average planned spend among people celebrating Halloween in the 2024 survey.
Source: National Retail Federation, 2024 Halloween Spending Survey. Survey year: 2024.
78%
planned to buy decorations
Decorations were the most common planned Halloween purchase in the survey.
Source: National Retail Federation, 2024 Halloween Spending Survey. Survey year: 2024.
71%
planned to buy costumes
Costumes remained one of the season's most common planned purchases.
Source: National Retail Federation, 2024 Halloween Spending Survey. Survey year: 2024.
49%
planned to shop in September or earlier
About half of Halloween shoppers expected to begin before October.
Source: National Retail Federation, 2024 Halloween Spending Survey. Survey year: 2024.
What the figures show
The season starts before October.
The strongest signal is timing. With nearly half of shoppers expecting to start in September or earlier, brands and creators have room to reach people while they are still gathering ideas, not only when they are ready to check out.
Decorations, costumes and candy are all major parts of the occasion, but the pattern is broader than any single product. People build Halloween around the rituals they enjoy: a party, a trick-or-treat route, a movie night, a pumpkin patch, a classroom celebration or simply a favorite seasonal outfit.
For a small seasonal brand, that is a useful reminder to make the atmosphere tangible. A wearable graphic, a cozy mug or a thoughtful gift can fit naturally into the plans people are already making.
Methodology and sources
How to read these statistics.
All six figures on this page come from the National Retail Federation's 2024 Halloween Spending Survey, a U.S. consumer survey covering planned Halloween participation and purchases. Figures describe consumer plans reported in that survey, not Fern & Moonbeam sales or forecasts.
We keep this page focused on one clearly named survey so each statistic can be traced to the same source and used with the right context. The page will be reviewed when newer comparable national data is available.
Primary source: National Retail Federation, 2024 Halloween Spending Survey.
Cite this page
Fern & Moonbeam. “Halloween Shopping Statistics: Spending, Costumes and Decorations.” Updated August 25, 2026. https://fernandmoonbeam.shop/halloween-shopping-statistics
Explore the season
Find a little October magic.
For cozy Halloween layers, illustrations and gifts made for the whole season, explore Fern & Moonbeam's Enchanted Autumn collection.
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