Halloween is looming which means Floridians are opening up their wallets and heading to the stores.
The Florida Retail Federation released a study on Wednesday which showed retailers should expect another Halloween with record high spending. Across the nation, Americans are expected to spend $9.1 billion on Halloween, up from $8.4 billion last year. In 2016, the average American spent $82.93 on average on Halloween and projections showing that number increasing to $86.13 this year.
R. Scott Shalley, the president and CEO of the FRF, said Florida retailers should benefit from a strong Halloween season.
“Another year of expected record spending on Halloween festivities is great news for Florida’s retailers,” Shalley said on Wednesday. “The crafty retailers in our state will be able to scare up more sales by offering special discounts and other incentives to get more people in their stores to purchase costumes, decorations and candy.”
Almost half of Americans--48 percent- plan to dress up and spend $3.4 billion on costumes while 71 percent of Americans will spend $2.7 billion on candy. Halloween decorations will also lead to $2.7 billion in spending as 49 percent of Americans plan to decorate their home or yard for Halloween.
Discount stores will receive a boost over Halloween as 47 percent of shoppers plan to buy costumes and other supplies store. More than a third of Americans--38 percent--will hit Halloween and costume stores while 25 percent intend to buy supplies at supermarkets.
Skittles rule the Sunshine State according to Candystore.com with almost 631,000 pounds of that fruit flavored candy sold. Snickers bars take the silver in Florida with more than 587,000 pounds of that candy sold in the state while Reese’s Cups place third with almost 225,000 pounds of it sold in Florida.
Almost 4 million children in Florida intend to dress up for Halloween with superheroes, animals, princesses, witches, pirates and Star Wars characters being some of the more popular costumes.
