Americans expected to spend $3.4 billion on Halloween costumes

A haunting estimate of $3.4 billion will be spent on costumes alone this Halloween, up from $3.1 billion last year, with inspiration for costumes coming from a number of places, according to the National Retail Federation. Consumers are expected to spend $9.1 billion on the holiday total. 

Thirty-five percent of consumers will find their inspiration for their costume online, 30 percent will look in stores, 20 percent will ask friends and family, 18 percent will look to social media like Facebook or Pinterest, 17 percent will be influenced by pop culture and 14 percent will be influenced by print media, according to the National Retail Federation. 

The option of finding in-store costumes has been popular for stores like Party Works in Collierville this Halloween season. Sales associate at Party Works and Univeristy of Memphis criminal justice freshman Destiny Alexander said superhero themed costumes have sold the most at her store. 

 “We’ve sold a lot of Wonder Woman, Batman and Harley Quinn costumes,†Alexander said.

This year, the top five most searched costumes, according to Google Trends, are “Wonder Woman,†“Harley Quinn,†“clown,†“unicorn†and “rabbit.â€

Alexander said Party Works has other options.

“We have a lot of inflatable costumes here,†Alexander said. “There’s this marshmallow man one, t-rex, minion and even a beer-pong table costume.â€

Alexander said the law enforcement-related costumes and witches have been the most popular options for women.

“Women have been getting a lot of police officer and firefighter costumes,†Alexander said.

Although Halloween costumes represent tradition for many, there are those, like 19-year-old English sophomore Kyiah Oliver, who have never been trick-or-treating in their life.

“I’ve never celebrated Halloween,†Oliver said. “I’ve only ever dressed up once, and that was for a school play.â€

However, Oliver said if she were to dress up for Halloween this year, she would go with something simple.

“I don’t feel like I’m creative enough to come up with a costume,†Oliver said. “I would probably go with something like a nerd because I like suspenders.â€Â 

In addition to Oliver, 19-year-old child development sophomore Sarah Frizzel said she has also never been trick-or-treating, but she has dressed up once before.

“I dressed up as a princess for a kindergarten Halloween party, but that’s it,†Frizzel said.

Frizzel said the reason for her never trick-or-treating has to do with her mother and her beliefs.

“My mom is Colombian,†Frizzel said. â€In Colombia, they believe that Halloween is more like a satanic ritual kind of thing, so she didn’t trust it here.â€

Still, others, like 21-year-old biology senior Carrie Taylor, are excited about Halloween and their homemade costumes.

“I’m making my own koala costume,†Taylor said. “I ordered a gray hoodie and sweatpants, got some fake fur for the koala belly at Michael’s and cut out circles and hot glued them on to a headband for the ears.â€