Halloween is now the second biggest retail holiday in America behind Christmas

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.howellcountynews.com/Stories/edit_20091029_130438_20847_.php

<snip>But nowadays, Halloween is a lot different.

“Halloween is now the second biggest retail holiday in America behind Christmas with Americans expected to spend over $7 billion this year on costumes, candy, attending parties and much more. Over the past three years, the popularity of Halloween has tripled and the tremendous influx of money spent on its celebration will hopefully jumpstart an otherwise struggling economy,” according to business-opportunity.biz, hauntedhouseassociation.com and more.

In fact, the haunted house industry pumps $1 billion or more into the U.S. economy each year. So much for cold spaghetti and grapes.

Haunted house attractions – including corn mazes like the one outside Willow Springs on Highway AM – pull in $400 to $500 million each year in ticket sales.

The Haunted House Association estimates there are more than 2,000 haunted attractions nationwide that charge admission. Additionally, estimates are that more than 300 amusement parks or other facilities offer some sort of Halloween or haunted event, as well as more than 1,000 charity attractions.

The association says the typical haunted attraction averages around 8,000 paid guests. Costs average around $15, with amusement park rates often higher.

“The industry of haunted houses supports hundreds of other businesses across America such as vendors that supply haunted house effects, props, costumes, masks, animations and more,” the association says. “Additionally, haunted houses spend tens of millions of dollars on building supplies, advertisement, insurance and much more.”

[Richardo]

1. And people say they know how to spend their money better than the government does.

Not so sure about that. :eyes:

[Teaser]

7. Enjoy what I like!

.

[AllentownJake]

2. Should be interesting to see what the sales were this year

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sat-cheap-halloween-oct24,0,7633545.story

In my own neighborhood, there were more kids in home made costumes than two years ago. I don't remember last year because I was working on the election.

[Sherman A1]

3. Has been for several years

the toy industry (including the costumes, etc) has been pumping halloween for at least the last decade.

[Luminous Animal]

4. Of course, because it's my birthday!

The biggest birthday party for one single person after Jesus.

Thank you, everyone!

[tammywammy]

8. Happy Birthday!

:party:

It's also my dad's birthday. :)

[Blasphemer]

13. Happy Birthday :) nt

[Vickers]

5. We should start having a War On Halloween to go along with our War On Christmas!!!

:headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang:

[Taitertots]

10. The war on Christmas just got a new front

If anything it would be the war of Halloween against Christmas. We are almost there, I'm hoping a bad christmas consumption fest will push Halloween ahead next year.

[tsuki]

15. The War on Halloween was halted when the Fundies discovered

BIG BUCKS in haunted mansions here. Before that, we celebrated "Fall Harvest".

[givemebackmycountry]

6. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

YOU are wrong.

It's Christmas followed by EASTER!

DON'T YOU KNOW ANYTHING!

Don't you know we are a CHRISTIAN Nation?
SARAH, says so!

:sarcasm:

Actually, I think it's Christmas, Halloween and Super Bowl Sunday.

But, what do I know?

[NNN0LHI]

9. Halloween is #1 in my dogs book

They really like greeting the kids all dressed up at the door to get their heads rubbed.

Don

[doc03]

11. It's crazy to me, when I was a kid nobody decorated

for Halloween. It's not even a real holiday. We have to over commercialize everything. Anything for the all mighty buck.

[malaise]

12. No wonder Pat Robertson and his lunatics are upset

They're not getting any of this money. :evilgrin:

[blogslut]

14. I scanned some article today

Said the temporary Halloween shops in NYC were doing real well and renting vacated stores that had been shut down due to the crummy economy.

I dig Halloween a lot. People get to let their hair down, their fantasies out and poke a few ribs while eating candy. What's not to love?

[Liberal_in_LA]

16. Interesting. I would thanksgiving is more expensive, more expensive food

[Raine]

17. GOOD, I LOVE Halloween

I always have, I'm glad more and more people are discovering and getting into it. :bounce:

[jwirr]

18. Is there a regional aspect to this stat? What with the rw objecting

it would be interesting to see how people respond.

[yewberry]

19. Goodness, that's hard to imagine.

Let's see...we spent $6 on pumpkins and $8 on candy for trick-or-treaters. I suppose you could count the candles we already had, but that would only be another buck, max.

But then, we have no kids, so that's probably the difference right there...

[unkachuck]

20. "Halloween is now the second biggest retail holiday in America..."

....bigger than the 4th?....I'm not too sure about that....the neighborhood Bumpas around here spend thousands on fireworks and begin celebrating weeks before the 4th....empty illegal firework casings and debris liter the streets a foot deep....I've got to check the numbers on this....