Aussies aren’t spooked by Halloween spending, will spend close to $500m

Aussies will spend a whopping $490 million on Halloween celebrations in 2023, says the Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan. This figure represents a 14% increase, or $60 million, compared to the previous year.

More than 5.3 million Australians are expected to celebrate Halloween this year, marking an increase of 300,000 participants compared to 2022. The Halloween tradition continues to gain traction in Australia, with celebrations ranging from hosting themed parties, decorating homes, and dressing up for outings, to welcoming trick-or-treaters at the door.

This new research highlights that the average spending per individual celebrating Halloween this year is projected to be $93, marking an 8% increase from the previous year. The majority of participants plan to celebrate by purchasing a Halloween costume (49% of respondents), trick-or-treating (45%), stocking up on sweets and chocolates (39%), and decorating their homes (36%).

Interestingly, the age group most likely to celebrate Halloween are those aged 35-49, representing 40% of the total, a 3% increase from a year ago. This equates to 1 million people, a surge of 190,000 participants from the previous year. Additionally, approximately 2.1 million Australians aged 18-34, 620,000 people aged 50-64, and 430,000 aged 65+ are expected to join in the frightful festivities.

ARA chief Paul Zahra pointed out that the increased spending on Halloween, despite the cost-of-living pressures, demonstrates the growing popularity of the holiday in Australia, particularly among adults. Zahra emphasised that Halloween offers a fantastic opportunity for families to be creative, have fun, and break free from the routine.

"Retailers are also coming to the party with themed windows and store displays as part of [a] big promotional push in the lead up to October 31," Zahra said. 

He further noted that Halloween is an important time for retailers to build sales momentum in the run-up to Christmas.

However, despite the huge growth in Australia’s Halloween tradition, it’s still dwarfed by our northern hemisphere cousins. In comparison to our $490 million, Halloween spending in the United States is expected to hit a record $12.2 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.

Still, you’ll want to keep tabs of your Halloween spending with a suitable budget. Be sure to check out our guide on the best budgeting and savings apps here. If you’re keen to review your savings approach more generally, our experts also handpick the best savings accounts in the market.