Nearly two-thirds of shoppers plan to skip some purchases this season, cutting back on staple items like costumes, candy, and decorations as persistent economic pressures and higher price tags alter consumer behavior ahead of the fall holidays, according to a new LendingTree survey.
The findings highlight a cautious approach to seasonal spending that cuts across traditional celebratory habits. About a third of Halloween shoppers, for instance, are actively cutting back on home decor for the season, opting to reuse older items or forgo festive displays entirely. While holiday traditions have historically proven resilient against minor economic downturns, the convergence of inflation, tighter household budgets, and growing anxiety about the broader economic outlook has forced many households to reevaluate their discretionary spending priorities.
Though many consumers are visibly spooked about affording their Halloween purchases, the data reveals that financial strain is not distributed evenly across different demographic groups. Younger consumers, in particular, appear to be absorbing a disproportionate amount of financial pressure to maintain holiday traditions. Roughly four in 10, or 43%, of Generation Z respondents said they are likely to take on debt to fund their Halloween purchases this year. They are closely followed by millennials, 35% of whom reported similar expectations of borrowing or using credit cards to cover holiday costs.
By contrast, older generations report a significantly lower reliance on debt for seasonal festivities. Only 14% of Generation Xers and a mere 2% of baby boomers said they expect to take on debt for Halloween, according to the LendingTree survey. This generational divide underscores distinct differences in baseline financial stability, savings cushions, and cultural pressures related to social media and peer engagement during seasonal events.
Among those consumers who have previously taken on debt or overextended themselves to fund their Halloween fun, 51% said they ultimately regret the overspending. When asked why they exceeded their budgets, these respondents frequently cited two primary pressures: the societal urge to keep up appearances—often amplified by digital platforms and social media sharing—and higher-than-anticipated retail prices that caught shoppers off guard at the checkout counter.
Indeed, prices have climbed steadily across a range of retail categories leading up to the autumn holiday season, touching everything from seasonal confectionery to children’s toys. Toy prices alone jumped 4.2% between August and September, according to figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. When compared to the same period a year ago, toy prices surged an even steeper 6.6% in September, reflecting ongoing supply chain adjustments, manufacturing costs, and broader inflationary pressures that continue to ripple through the consumer goods market.
Faced with these escalating costs, many holiday shoppers have proactively adjusted their purchasing strategies, taking advantage of early discounts and beginning their shopping excursions well in advance to stretch their available budgets. The urgency to economize is supported by wider retail metrics; nearly half, or 45%, of respondents to an Ibotta survey reported that their personal finances currently feel insecure, while over 70% stated that their primary financial focus this year is on saving money rather than discretionary indulgence.
Despite these widespread anxieties, consumer sentiment remains somewhat mixed regarding immediate affordability. Seven in 10 shoppers surveyed indicated that they can still easily afford their current Halloween purchases without immediate hardship. However, underlying pessimism regarding the future remains palpable. Roughly four in 10, or 42%, of respondents in a Deloitte survey of 1,500 U.S. shoppers anticipate that the broader national economy will deteriorate further in the year ahead.
This cautious outlook has directly influenced where consumers choose to spend their hard-earned dollars. To maximize value and keep expenses manageable, shoppers are increasingly shifting their purchasing habits toward value-driven retail channels. The Deloitte survey found that more than half of all shoppers are buying their Halloween items at traditional grocery stores, while 40% are turning to discount stores to source their holiday goods.
A separate survey conducted by the National Retail Federation echoes these shifting shopping patterns, revealing that nearly four in 10 consumers—specifically 39%—identified discount stores as their primary destination for purchasing Halloween products this season. As retailers navigate this shifting landscape, the data suggests that value, affordability, and strategic budgeting will continue to dictate consumer engagement not only for Halloween, but as the broader retail industry looks ahead to the critical winter holiday shopping period.
