One in five Australians are getting ghoulish this Halloween, with ever-growing popularity of the October 31 event reflected in boosted retail sales across the nation.
The Australian Retailers Association’s (ARA) said many popular retailers are seeing increased sales of up to 20 per cent on Halloween merchandise, with department stores selling hundreds of thousands of costumes and tens of thousands of decorations so far.
Australians can’t resist carving up a Jack O’ Lantern, with supermarkets reporting a 25 per cent increase in pumpkin sales in the lead up to Halloween.
Expect to see youngsters dressed as spider-man, ghosts and princesses, while the top costume categories of choice for adults are witches, vampires and cats.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra says the Halloween tradition has a rich history that Australians enjoy celebrating.
“Halloween originated as a Celtic Festival from the United Kingdom where people lit fires and wore costumes to ward off ghosts,” Mr Zahra says.
“Over time, it’s evolved into a day of trick or treating, festive gatherings and donning costumes. It’s now a global phenomenon and a significant retail event.
“It’s also a fantastic day for families and friends to come together to celebrate. We know many parents enjoy trick or treating with their children, while adults get into the spirit by dressing up and hosting themed parties.”
Australian retailers will be enjoying a $450 million sugar hit from Halloween spending in 2024, with 38 per cent of Australians stocking up on candy for trick or treaters. 37 per cent will also be buying Halloween costumes, and 32 per cent will be buying chill-inducing home décor.
21 per cent of Australians say they are planning to celebrate, and of those participating, each person will spend an average of $93.
The top Halloween categories Australians will be spending on include:
- Trick or treating: 45 per cent
- Treats for trick or treaters: 38 per cent
- Halloween costumes: 37 per cent
- Home decorations: 32 per cent
- Attending or hosting: 18 per cent
Australians aged 35-59 are the most likely to celebrate Halloween (34 per cent) followed closely by under 35s (25 per cent).