Spending on Halloween a retailers’ treat
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Americans will spend an estimated $5.07 billion on Halloween this year, scaring up $1.82 billion for costumes, $1.55 billion for candy, $1.39 billion for decorations and $310 million for greeting cards, the National Retail Federation says.
In 2005, revelers spent an estimated $4.96 billion, according to an annual survey conducted for the retailer group by BIGresearch.
Howard Beige, executive vice president of Rubie’s Costume Co., one of the country’s largest costume distributors and manufacturers, said business kept growing because adults didn’t want to give up the formerly kids-only holiday.
“Parents wanted to keep their kids safe. So they threw parties, and it became an indoor holiday,” he said.
