Halloween is fast approaching, but the excitement over the holiday is not what it used to be. Initially, I thought it might be nostalgia talking, convincing me it’s not like the old days, but then I started speaking to friends, family and classmates and hearing things like “I’m doing the same thing as last year,” “I don’t want to spend money on a costume” or “I’m just gonna wear my old flannel. As a result of constant inflation, rising hopelessness and stale costume ideas, people are losing interest in the spooky season.
In the past few years, there has been a significant decline in Halloween fun, especially when it comes to costumes. In a survey of 2,000 Americans, 76% said they have no plans to dress up this year, and 77% said they were not planning to attend a Halloween party. As someone who takes Halloween arguably too seriously, I was disappointed to see this steep decline in Halloween spirit. Then I started thinking about why that might be.
It’s not that suddenly everyone decided to stop caring, but rather that the state of the world has made us not care. The United States is still the biggest celebrator of Halloween in the world, but with the rising price of groceries, gas, housing and just about everything else, people are focused more on survival than festivities.
Consumer data showed that 70% of young adults report having nightmares about money. It’s not an unwarranted fear either. Since the 1990s, the biggest era of Halloween, essentials like housing, higher education, healthcare and childcare have all doubled in price. Things have only worsened under the Trump administration’s economic policies, with its budget cuts and tariffs. Price gouging made its way into Halloween stores, with the price of a basic costume averaging $50-$70. For an item that is non-refundable and will likely be worn only once, most people don’t want to make that monetary commitment.
Alongside the economic shift, there is a mental health crisis affecting people’s desire to go out at all. For young adults in low-income households, the depression rate has increased from 22.1% in 2017 to 37.4% today. Even those with greater financial means still lack the urge to party. Overall, the rate of depression in 2025 was 18.3%, meaning around 47.8 million Americans suffering with hopelessness. In conjunction with the sadness is fear — about one-third of young people globally experience social anxiety and distance themselves from large crowds, instead preferring cozy movie nights.
Unlike attendance rates, spending is skyrocketing, with shoppers expected to spend $13.5 billion this year. Those might be big numbers, but they do not indicate that everyone is spending; rather, that those who can spend will spend. Rising prices of decor, costumes and candy also affect the budget. Regardless of whether Halloween will make money, it used to be accessible to all but is now exclusive for the middle and upper class.
Interestingly enough, despite the economic and mental health issues targeting young adults, they are 10% more likely to celebrate than the rest. Yet the celebration is less focused on the pageantry and more on alcohol. Many people — particularly young and broke college students — rely on low-effort DIY costumes. While there’s nothing wrong with being smart with your money, creativity has died. Wearing your normal clothes with a crappy eyeliner cat nose is not a costume, it’s a defeat! In fact, the lack of effort may be one reason people are no longer participating, as 75% of survey respondents say most costumes are overused and boring.
Having to coordinate an outfit you can’t afford and spend your day off at a party you might hate may not seem ideal, but I argue not to let the evil forces of the economy and burnout win. To take back Halloween, we have to start caring again. Nobody needs to spend $69.99 on a Spirit Halloween costume made in China that does not include wig, shoes or accessories.
Instead of spending an arm and a leg, perhaps make an arm and a leg. For decades before commercialized costumes existed, people made their own — and they weren’t lazy about it either. A major skill Americans have lost that helped avoid buying costumes was the art of sewing. Those avoiding their strange aunt teaching them to thread a needle can instead opt for the crafting route with glue, tape or even papier-mâché. If you possess no skills at all but still want to look possessed, you can go to your local thrift store, Five Below or Dollar Tree. If you absolutely refuse to buy something, use your closet, but be creative about it — enhance your look with detailed makeup. Let’s not let the state of the world kill our sense of whimsy. Let’s take back Halloween!