Summary
The article discusses the increase in spending related to Halloween in the UK. People are starting to buy Halloween items like decorations and candy much earlier, influenced by social media trends. Retail data shows this early spending trend is growing each year, despite economic challenges.
Key Facts
- Halloween-related spending in the UK is starting earlier each year, with significant purchases beginning well before October 31st.
- Over £100 million was spent on candy in British supermarkets in the four weeks leading up to October 5th, a 5% increase from the previous year.
- More than a million shoppers bought pumpkins by early October, doubling the amount spent compared to the same period in 2023.
- Charlotte Brennan, a gift shop owner, notes that Halloween is now her second-busiest season after Christmas, with customers buying decorations and themed items influenced by social media.
- Overall spending on Halloween in the UK reached £2 billion two years ago, with expectations for further growth.
- Retail spending on Halloween items grew by 37% in the two weeks leading up to Halloween in 2024 compared to a usual two-week period, with sales of candles and pajamas also rising.
- Analysts suggest Halloween is now viewed as an occasion for adults as well, not just children, with more people embracing home-oriented Halloween celebrations.
- Supermarkets and leisure businesses, like those owned by Merlin Entertainment, are increasingly capitalizing on Halloween, viewing it as a key profit-driving season.
