Here are some Halloween factoids from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Retail Federation:
- There were about 41.2 million trick-or-treaters ages 5 to 14 in the U.S. in 2013. Of course, many other younger and older children also take part in the tradition.
- Around 1,333 U.S. manufacturers produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2012, keeping things spooktacularly sweet. They employ 37,150 people, and the value of shipments hits $14.4 billion, up slightly from $14.1 billion in 2007.
- Another 439 businesses made nonchocolate confectionery products in 2012. They employed 19,141 people and shipped $8 billion in goods.
- According to the National Retail Federation, consumers will spend nearly $7.5 billion on Halloween this year, compared to about $7 billion last year. Shoppers will spend an average of $77 each on the holiday, per the federation’s monthly consumer survey.
- Among adults, 66.7 percent plan to celebrate Halloween, the National Retail Federation reports. About 70 percent of them will hand out candy, followed by decorating their homes or yards, dressing in costume and carving pumpkins. Only about a third of adults will throw or attend a party or take their children trick-or-treating. About 1 in 5 will visit a haunted house, and perhaps 17 percent will dress their pets in costumes.- There were 50,900 acres of pumpkins harvested in 2013, The Census Bureau reports. Of the top six pumpkin-producing states, Illinois led the way with 547.6 million pounds. They were followed by California, Ohio, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.
