How much money will Americans spend on Halloween this year?

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Americans are projected to spend $11.6 billion on Halloween decorations, costumes, candy and other festive purchases this October, according to an annual survey from the National Retail Federation.

When broken down, that $11.6 billion translated to $3.8 billion spent on costumes, $3.8 billion dedicated to decorations, $3.5 billion allocated to purchasing candy and $0.5 billion spent on greeting cards, per the survey.

That dollar amount marked a slight downturn compared to 2023's record $12.2 billion but still signified a nearly 57% increase in spending compared to 2014 figures. That year, Americans forked out an estimated $7.4 billion on the ghoulish holiday.

With that level of spending also comes an eagerness to kick off the Halloween festivities, according to the National Retail Federation. Approximately 47% of Americans surveyed said they began purchasing Halloween goods before October — up from 32% in 2014.

“Halloween marks the official transition to the fall season for many Americans, and consumers are eager to get a jump start on purchasing new seasonal décor and other autumnal items,” NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen said in a release on the report's findings. “Retailers are prepared to meet this early demand by offering shoppers all the holiday essentials to make this year’s celebrations memorable.”

The most popular celebration plan among survey respondents included passing out candy (67%), while 52% said they'd commemorate the occasion by decorating. Just shy of half of respondents (49%) said they'd dress up for the holiday, while 43% said they planned to carve a pumpkin and 29% would either host or attend a Halloween party.