By Matt Murphy, staff writer
Around the world people are preparing for the next big holiday: Halloween. It’s when people from all over, no matter what the age, get to be someone else for the night. What many people don’t notice is how much money is spent on this night of fun. After the candy, the costumes, the baby sitter and let’s not forget the decorations, retailer’s end up raking in the money.
What was started as a date to praise the dead has become a way for companies such as Party City and Wal-Mart to make massive sales. What seems a small expense here and there can accumulate into large numbers.
The average person might think that candy and costumes for kids are the main reason for spending on this holiday, but that notion is wrong. Adults are the big spenders, with the average man spending $90.11 and the average woman spending $85.11 on Halloween annually.
According to the National Retail Federation,
Americans are projected to spend $7.4 billion on Halloween goodies in 2014. About $2.8 billion of that will be on costumes.
“I cannot say a number on how much we make, but I can say we make about four times as much as we do any other month,” said Kevin Clark, Party City general manager in Kenosha.
“I have to hire about 30 to 40 extra employees to keep up with the demand of the Halloween season,” Clark said.
“Frozen and super hereos are going to be the big sellers this year. We already sold out of some of the Frozen costumes,” Clark said.
Recently, during a busy day of shopping at Pary City, shoppers shared their spending habits with The Pulse. So how much are people handing over at the checkout counter for their party favors and cos- tumes?
“I am preparing to spend up to $150 this Hallow- een on my four kids and my husband,” said Jennifer Thirst, Party City customer.
When you add up all the ex- penses, Halloween can turn from a cheap night out to a night that can break the bank. In a world where everyone seems to have to outdo the other, even the most noncompetitive person can end up spending the big bucks.
So get ready for a night of extravagant costumes and elaborate scares. Whether a party goer or someone who chooses to stand on the sidelines, Halloween always makes for a great night of people watching.