Halloween Alert from Planalytics

Western Chills and a Midwest Warm-Up Bring Halloween Tricks and Treats
Bone Dry Conditions for Most Favor Halloween Festivities

The spooky season is finally here, and consumers are ready! As Halloween falls on a Saturday, a large amount of consumer purchasing will take place during the week and the weekend before the holiday. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 74% of U.S. consumers plan to celebrate Halloween this year. These consumers are estimated to spend $13.5 billion on Halloween-related items, with candy, decorations, and costumes representing the most popular categories. Here is the outlook and the key retail impacts to watch:

The days leading up to Halloween will bring chilling, fall-like temperatures across the western half of the country and Gulf Coast states, boosting demand for warmer apparel, firewood, and all things pumpkin spice. In contrast, unseasonably warm conditions across the Midwest and Great Lakes could haunt sales of these seasonal staples while lifting spirits for outdoor decorations and last-minute party supplies.

Mostly dry conditions are expected across much of the country, favoring foot traffic and outdoor holiday preparations. However, showers early and late in the week across the Southern Plains could complicate travel for broomstick-bound shoppers, with rain and gusty winds potentially shifting in-store visits to off-peak hours or driving more consumers online.

Broadly dry conditions across most of the country on Halloween will favor outdoor parties, neighborhood trick-or-treating, and other holiday festivities. However, cooler temperatures across the West and Southeast could add a chill to the celebrations, while spooky showers across the South Central may dampen spirits. The unsettled weather in the South could spark a last-minute rush for raincoats and umbrellas and boost demand for indoor activities as families seek dry alternatives to outdoor fun.

Businesses can get ahead of the clear regional shifts in consumer demand and optimize inventories, marketing campaigns, promotions, and operations. Please reach out to Planalytics to further discuss specific weather impact insights for your business.