Shoppers Favor Thrifted Halloween Costumes

Many shoppers are favoring thrifted and upcycled Halloween costumes as prices rise, with Goodwill and other secondhand retailers reporting increased donations and sales and offering low-cost options and seasonal discounts (some thrifted full costumes sell for about $10–$20). The National Retail Federation still projects roughly $13.1 billion in total Halloween spending and an average per-person spend near $114.45 even as consumers shift toward secondhand and DIY looks. A viral photo in north Wahroonga of a kookaburra entangled in synthetic cobwebs prompted councils to warn that fake webbing, fishing line, balloons and similar decorations can harm wildlife and urged use of natural or upcycled materials and careful cleanup. Public-health studies and reports have highlighted Halloween hazards including pumpkin-carving injuries, fires from candle-lit jack-o’-lanterns and costumes, vision-impairing masks, latex allergies, risky colored contact lenses, and sharply higher child pedestrian deaths on Halloween evenings. Cities and waste divisions are advising how to dispose of or recycle post-Halloween items, environmental groups urge reuse and plastic-free treats, and retailers and charities (including Chicago Costume, Party Time and Goodwill branches) are promoting last-minute budget-friendly and DIY costume options. Separately, a federal judge pressed Customs and Border Protection on limits to using chemical irritants around Halloween events, saying such force should be used only in extremely limited circumstances.