Expect To See A Lot Of Disney Characters This Halloween
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Sometimes the scariest thing about Halloween isn't Halloween at all. It's the cost of those costumes.
Americans will spend about $7.5 billion on tricks and treats, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Most people will spend around $78, with most of it going towards a costume.
Since Halloween is on a Friday this year, there will be extra emphasis at schools, neighborhoods and parties. And for parents, that means extra pressure.
"I'm the grandma, but I know the moms and dads have been thinking about this for weeks. I used to plan weeks ahead when my kids were younger," said Sue Drag of Maple Grove.
For the crowd under 13, it can be tough to pick the costume. But to know which characters will be for trick-or-treating, look for further than your TV.
Elsa, Ana and Olaf from Disney's Frozen are the strongest sales so far. The NRF estimates 2.6 million kids will be a Disney character this year. Spider-Man is also in demand with 2.6 million. Also popular: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and animals.
While kids tend to go with pop culture costumes, most adults are traditional. This year the survey found witches (4.8 million) animal (2.6 million), Batman (2 million) and pirates (1.8 million) are this year's top picks.
The NRF found 49 percent of adults buy their costumes out of a bag. Many will reuse costumes in a new way. To cut down on costs, experts say accessorize an existing outfit.
The first two weeks of October are the peak costume buying period, according to the NRF.
Now's the time to shop before stores run out of sizes and accessories.