Sep 24, 2012

Americans to Spend More on Halloween This YearBy Nivedita BhattacharjeeChicagoTribune.com

When the black cats, witches and trick-or-treaters come out for Halloween this year, a record 170 million people in the United States will dress up, celebrate, and spend up to $8 billion, according to a retail industry survey.

Seven in ten Americans will take part in the festivities, and the average person will spend $79.82 on decorations, costumes and candy – up from $72.31 last year, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2012 Halloween consumer spending survey conducted by research group BIGinsight.

Halloween, observed on October 31, is the eighth-biggest selling season in the United States. It is far behind the winter holidays which rank as the No. 1 retail selling season.

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