Family Life

10.30.09 | FL News Team

A scary economy is frightening more people into spending less this Halloween. That's according to a new survey by the National Retail Federation, which says nearly one-third of consumers say the economy is affecting their Halloween spending.

Of those surveyed, 88-percent say they plan to spend less this year. The NRF says total sales are expected to drop by more than $1 billion from 2008 spending.

Federation spokeswoman Kathy Grannis tells "USA Today" many people plan to take the less-expensive road and either design their own costume or use last year's. She says the retail group expects spending on all things relating to Halloween to drop by about 15-percent to an average of just over $56 per person. Costume retailers say they're seeing changes in buying habits as well.