Australians to spend record $500m on Halloween

Average spend per person expected to rise 11% to $103.

Australians are set to spend a record $500m on Halloween this year, according to research from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Roy Morgan.

“Halloween continues to grow in Australia and has become a multi-generational, community celebration,” said ARA Chief Industry Affairs Officer Fleur Brown. “Spending on costumes, decorations, treats and parties is tipped to climb 11% to about $500m compared with last year.”

With Halloween falling on a Friday, around 4.8 million Australians aged 18 and over plan to buy costumes, decorate their homes, stock up on lollies, or host parties.

Average spending per person is expected to rise 11% to $103. Victorians and Tasmanians will spend the most ($112), followed by New South Wales ($107) and South Australia ($102).

Popular Halloween activities include buying costumes (43%), trick-or-treating (46%), stocking up on sweets (47%), and decorating homes (38%).

Spending in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland alone is forecast to hit $390m, up $40m from 2024.

Older Australians are joining the fun in larger numbers, with participation among 50-to-64-year-olds rising to 21% and over-65s also at 21%, adding roughly 1 million more participants from these age groups.