NRF survey: Traditional costumes in favor this Halloween

his Halloween, expect to see plenty of pumpkins, princesses, zombies, and witches at parties or out trick or treating. Adults and children will look to traditional favorites for their costumes this year, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2013 Top Costumes Survey results.

More than 5 million adults plan to dress as a witch this year and 2.9 million will dress as a Batman character, the retail trade group found. Children have said they want to be a princess (3.8 million), an animal (2.8 million), or a Batman character (2.5 million). Fido and Fluffy will be fashionable as well: 7.9 percent of people will dress their furry friend as a pumpkin. Hot dog, cat, and devil costumes follow for pet favorites, the NRF says.

Americans are expected to spend $2.6 billion on Halloween costumes, according to the NRF, spending $1 billion on children’s costumes, $1.2 billion on adult costumes, and $330 million on pet costumes. The average consumer will spend $75.03 on Halloween candy, costumes, decorations, and activities this year, down from $79.82 in 2012, the NRF estimates.  

Halloween-related spending in the U.S. is expected to total $6.9 billion this year, according to the NRF. That’s up 55 percent since 2005.

“Halloween is a long-standing tradition that kids and adults alike look forward to every fall,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a news release.