Halloween Experts

In 2009, The National Retail Foundation conducted a survey of 8,526 consumers to determine the most popular Halloween costumes of the year. While the average holiday spending per person dropped about $10 from the previous year, costume sales were strong. The top ten costumes for adults in 2009, reflected trends in other entertainment categories. The recent popularity of vampire books, movies and television programs prompted a surge in vampire costume sales as well. Politically themed costumes and masks, which had great success in 2008, dropped out of the list entirely. Another surprise was the increased popularity of athletic and sports themed costumes, which garnered them a spot on the top ten list.

Here is the list, compiled by the NRF, along with the average amount spent for each costume:

Top Ten Adult Halloween Costumes for 2009

10. Police Officer – $50
9. Athlete/Sports related – $50
8. Scary costume/mask – $52
7. Devil – $33
6. Cat – $29
5. Wench/Tart/Vixen – $45
4. Clown – $30
3. Pirate – $33
2. Vampire – $53
1. Witch – $43

Conspicuously absent from this year’s list were the Nurse costume and the French Maid. Also increasing in popularity, but not quite up to top ten standards were Gangster costumes, Fairy Costumes, particularly Tinkerbell, and Princess costumes.

(Photos: 2009 Celebrity Halloween costumes, including Bette Midler, looking pretty in pink, Christina Aguilera and son as skeletons, and Mariah Carey with husband Nick Cannon as angels)