DeWitt (WSYR-TV) -- It could be a sign that the economy’s improving or maybe it’s just more people getting into the spirit of Halloween. Either way, more Americans are getting ghoulish this year.
The National Retail Federation says a record 71.5 percent of Americans will celebrate Halloween. That’s up 19 percent from 2005.
So, what’s hot this Halloween?
The Avengers are one of the top costumes at Dougherty’s Masquerade in DeWitt.
“Movies dominate what’s going to be popular for Halloween,” said Denise Dougherty-Vinal. “So the Avengers have been really strong for adults and children.”
President costumes are going fast, too.
“Previous years they’ve said what masks have been sold out are a pretty good indicator of who’s going to become the next president, but we’ll see,” Dougherty-Vinal said.
A trip back in time has become a bit of a trend for women.
"This year, what's been very popular is Steampunk from the Victorian era,” Dougherty-Vinal said.
Dougherty-Vinal says people are getting more creative these days with wigs and hats and what-not, especially if they’re trying to pull off a character from the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
If you’re still undecided on what to be this year, there are plenty of places to get your inspiration for a costume. For instance, more and more people are turning to social media for help.
According to the National Retail Federation, about 15 percent of people will check out Facebook for ideas; 7 percent will scour the visually-appealing Pinterest; and overall, 33 percent will find their costume of choice by searching online.
Oh, and don’t forget your pets. The National Retail Federation says pet owners are expected to spend $370-million on costumes for their furry friends, which is $40-million more than last year.
