New $urvey $hows Halloween 2023 Costumes and Candy $pending is $etting New Records
In New Jersey, it seems like everyone is hyped up for Halloween more than ever. Everyone seems to have decorated much earlier this year. In addition to that, there just seems to be a more steadily growing buzz around costumes, parties, and what candy everyone will be giving away when the kids come to their door.
What are we spending this year?
If you’re feeling the same way about Halloween this year, you’re not alone. A new survey by the National Retail Foundation says Americans are
set to spend a record high of $12.2 billion during this year’s Halloween holiday season.
How does that compare to last year’s spending?
We’re spending nearly $2 billion more than last year and that works out to be around $108.24 per person in 2023. We shelled out $10.6 billion last year according to the yearly survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics on behalf of the NRF.
The survey shows 73% of those polled say they’re participating in the holiday this season. That’s a new record and it’s up 4% from the 69% who participated last year.
Sixty-eight percent of respondents planned to hand out candy, and 53% planned to decorate their home and/or their yard. Half of those polled say they’re dressing up this year as well.
Thirty-two percent say they’re planning to either attend a party or throw one themselves, and 28% say they’re taking their kids trick-or-treating.
Nearly 70% of those polled will be buying costumes this year which is yet another record. They also found that the total spending on costumes is expected to reach a record $4.1 billion. In 2022, it was only $3.6 billion.
Candy spending has also increased significantly. The purchase of candy is expected to reach $3.6 billion. That’s a significant increase as well, it’s up from $3.1 billion last year.
Whatever the reason is, everyone is looking to have a very festive and fun Halloween season.
Which Halloween Candy You Should Like Based on Your Astrological Sign
AQUARIUS - M&Ms
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – JUNE 12: Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Twix Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 250 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 12, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
“Aquarius is commonly associated with innovation and cosmic exploration. Fittingly, M&Ms were developed as a war ration. Their candy case prevents the chocolate from melting in the pockets of soldiers”
PISCES - NESTLE CRUNCH
Described as the “music to your mouth,” Pisceans are soothed by its sound. It’s like Rice Krispies cereal cemented in a chocolate casing. Snap, crackle, pop, crunch.
ARIES - SNICKERS
Snickers chocolate bars packaging are seen in a shop in Sulkowice, Poland on August 12, 2021. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Snickers bars are made by Mars Inc. and the Mars family named it after their pet horse. Marketing experts would reject that today. You need to research potential names, focus groups and surveys. Not for Snickers.
TAURUS - BUTTERFINGER
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – FEBRUARY 18: Nestle Butterfinger candy bars are displayed on a shelf at a convenience store on February 18, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Nestle USA announced plans to remove all artificial flavors and FDA-certified colors from its entire line of chocolate candy products, including the popular Butterfinger and Baby Ruth candy bars, by the end of 2015. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Bart and Homer Simpson said, “No one better lay a finger on my Butterfinger.” Tauruses are possessive so it all makes sense. Food that is named after a body part. Finger seems to be a popular name, just ask the chickens and ladies. There’s even a group of eats called “finger food.”
GEMINI - TWIX
KIEV, UKRAINE – 2019/09/02: Twix bars on a store shelf. (Photo by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Gemini is represented by twins, and Twix comes in twos. It’s got a great combo of sweets. Cookies, caramel and chocolate, delicious!
CANCER - 100 GRAND BAR
“The 100 Grand Bar has been the subject of many a radio prank. Announcers offering callers $100,000 and delivering a single bar instead. It has even been plot points in episodes of “The Office” and “Seinfeld.” That product placement sold a lot of candy.
LEO - CANDY APPLE
UNITED STATES – 2020/01/26: Candy apple treats. (Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)
They’re crunchy and delicious. Leos love their shiny appearance which garners attention which they love. One a day keeps the doctor away unless the doctor is a dentist.
VIRGO - KIT KAT
Kit-Kat candy at Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Hershey Co. says it has entered into definitive agreements to buy Dots Pretzels and Pretzels Inc.for about $1.2b in total. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Kit Kat was named after a London club with strong literary and political ties. The candy debuted “during Virgo season in 1935.” My dad turns 88 next month and the Kit-Kat has just barely been around his entire life.
LIBRA -REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUP
This is the most popular candy in most circles. It allegedly came about by accident when two people, one eating chocolate and one eating peanut butter, bumped into one another causing their snacks to collide. They were about to kill one another when they both realized the discovery they made.
SCORPIO - CANDY CORN
UNITED STATES – Circa 1990s: Halloween Candy Corn. (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/Retrofile/Getty Images)
As a lifelong Scorpio, I’m not sure I agree with this. If I haven’t mentioned it, my fave is Zagnut. However, astrologically speaking, I love candy corn.
SAGITTARIUS - MR. GOODBAR
“Sagittarius is the eternal optimist of the zodiac…you can’t keep these people down or out…Mr. Goodbar was… [used]…as a way to keep the company afloat and employees at work during the Great Depression.” The story goes that someone in product development said, “That’s a good bar.” Milton Hershey heard that and decided on the name.
CAPRICORN - TOOTHBRUSH
SCHWELM, GERMANY – JANUARY 10: Water pours onto a toothbrush with toothpaste on January 10, 2007 in Schwelm, Germany. (Photo Illustration by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)
I’m not sure I completely understand this. Apparently Capricorns hand out toothbrushes at Halloween because they “rule over the teeth.” I think the lesson here is, “Stay away from Capricorns on October 31st.
