Halloween sales expected to reach all-time high

CARSON CITY — As pumpkin patches pop up across the Silver State, Nevada consumers will be spending an estimated $127 million on costumes, candy and spooky decorations to celebrate Halloween this year, according to projections by the Retail Association of Nevada (RAN).

Across the country, Americans will spend $8.4 billion to dress up like ghouls, carve jack-o’-lanterns and hand out candy to little princesses and superheroes trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, according to a recent survey by the National Retail Federation.

In Nevada, consumers will spend an estimated $47.7 million to dress up this Halloween. The most popular costumes for adults this year are witch, various animals, and “Batman” characters, an NRF survey found. After an 11-year reign as the most popular children’s costume, princess was dethroned by action and superhero costumes this year.

With nine out of ten Halloween celebrants planning to buy sweets, candy will be the second-highest revenue generator for retailers in Nevada this year, with RAN estimating over $37.5 million in candy sales. In addition, decorations are projected to generate $36.3 million in spending in the Silver State, with greeting cards bringing in $5.9 million.

“Nevada’s retailers are prepared to make this Halloween a special occasion for adults and children alike,” said Bryan Wachter, senior vice president of RAN. “Whether its princesses, superheroes or Jedi, stores of all types are stocking the shelves in preparation for October’s festivities.”

According to the NRF, a significant share of sales will take place between now and Monday, as a nearly a quarter of Halloween celebrants wait until the final two weeks to shop. The most-popular shopping destinations for Halloween are discount stores, where 47 percent of respondents said they shop for spooky fare. Specialty Halloween and costume stores were second (36 percent), followed by grocery stores (26 percent), department stores (23 percent), and online stores (22 percent).

In good news for trick-or-treaters, 71 percent of American consumers plan to hand out candy, making it the most-popular Halloween activity. Decorating the home or yard (49 percent), dressing in costume (47 percent), carving a pumpkin (46.0 percent) and throwing or attending a party (34 percent) round out the five most-popular activities.