Two-Thirds of Shoppers Plan to Skip Halloween Purchases

· Retail & E-commerce · United States

Nearly two-thirds of shoppers say they plan to skip some purchases this Halloween season, including staple items such as costumes and candy, according to a new LendingTree survey reported by Retail Dive. The pullback signals that budget-conscious consumers are trimming even low-ticket seasonal spending as inflation pressure persists. For retailers, the data points to a holiday season in which discretionary and impulse categories — the traditional engine of Halloween sales — may underperform expectations heading into the fourth quarter. The finding adds to a broader picture of cautious consumer behavior that merchants are weighing as they set inventory and promotional plans for the year's biggest shopping period.

Why it matters：Halloween is a bellwether for holiday discretionary spending, and a broad pullback in costume and candy purchases signals softer fourth-quarter demand for retailers.

Key points

  • Nearly two-thirds of shoppers plan to skip some purchases this year, per a LendingTree survey.
  • Costumes and candy are among the staple items being cut.
  • The pullback points to weaker discretionary demand entering the holiday quarter.

Sources (original reporting)

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