Oct 20, 2010

Spending Up for HalloweenBy Mary Scott SpeignerPanhandleParade.com

Panama City, FL — Spending is expected to reach close to $6 billion this Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation.

It’s a welcome relief for retailers — who are still suffering from the worst economy since the great depression.

Pop up Halloween stores like Spirit in the Panama City Mall are full of shoppers scoping out costumes. Owner John Neal says his sales are higher than last year.

“People are spending. I think Panama City really gets into Halloween,” said Neal.

And the national numbers reflect what’s happening here. The average person is expected to spend $66 per costume, that’s $10 more than 2009.

Jordan Holland is stocking up on Halloween gear. She’s spending about $200 on her family of four.

And that’s a change from last year. “We pretty much used something we already had last year, but this year we’ve spent more this year for sure,” said Holland, a Halloween shopper.

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