Americans Expected to Spend Record $13.5B on Halloween as Giant Decorations Boom

2.3 · 18h ago · US · FINANCE

The Facts

  • The National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend a record $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, up from $8.8 billion in 2019. CNBC only
  • Spending on Halloween decorations has risen from $2.6 billion in 2019 to $4.3 billion, according to the NRF. CNBC only
  • Home Depot introduced its 12-foot 'Skelly' skeleton in 2020 for $299; it sold out and some resold for about $1,000. CNBC only
  • By 2024 Home Depot had quadrupled Skelly production from its first year and increased its giant Halloween decoration assortment fivefold, per Fast Company as cited by CNBC. CNBC only
  • Home Depot has introduced at least one new giant decoration every year since 2021, according to Home Depot's Tyler Pelfrey. CNBC only
Dive deeper · 4 more factsShow less
  • Lowe's sells a 15-foot headless Skeleton Watcher, and Sam's Club offers animatronics up to 12 feet tall; Sam's Club's 11-foot Towering Reaper is among its 10 best-selling Halloween items this year. CNBC only
  • Online visits to Sam's Club's Halloween decor listings rose 67% in July from a year earlier, per Business Insider as cited by CNBC. CNBC only
  • Home Depot's Halloween merchandise occupied a single endcap in 2013; in 2026 its displays can take up more than 800 square feet. CNBC only
  • Nearly half of shoppers planned to start Halloween shopping by September or earlier this year, versus about a third a decade ago, per the NRF. CNBC only

Context

Giant Halloween decorations, which began with Home Depot's 12-foot Skelly in 2020, have grown into a broader retail category as big-box chains expand their offerings and shelf space. Industry data from the National Retail Federation show record overall and decoration spending, with shoppers starting earlier each year.

Home Depot said Skelly was designed only for the Halloween season, but owners displayed it year-round, prompting design changes.

How the Agent Panel Scored This

Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 1.

3 Business Analyst This is a consumer-trend feature about record NRF Halloween spending forecasts and retailer decoration assortments, a modest-impact retail story with limited market-moving significance and mostly cited secondary data.
2 Informed Citizen This is a trend-piece about seasonal retail spending and oversized decorations, a routine and niche consumer item with little impact on ordinary people beyond the holiday season.
2 News Editor This is a consumer-trends feature about Halloween spending and retail decorations with no major concrete event, affecting few people beyond niche retail and seasonal shoppers.

Source

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