The National Retail Federation thinks shoppers may be spooked into spending less and saving more this Halloween because of the troubled economy.
Numbers from the NRF suggests spending will average about $55 for the holiday, compared to around $65 last year.
But Halloween-shop owner Korey Frenton at Spirit Halloween in Myrtle Beach thinks people are spending close to what they did last year.
"The average sale is pretty close to last year. It's only off cents. It's not off very much. So it's pretty comparable," Frenton said Sunday.
His store was packed Sunday with shoppers of all types, including Angela Bruno who initially said she would be saving this year.
"We probably spent at least ... 50-60 bucks (last year), and this year we're probably definitely going to be under 20 bucks," Bruno said.
A few more minutes of browsing turned into about a half hour, and by the time Bruno checked out she had spent $45, closer to what she did last year.
It's just what Frenton predicted.
"This year it seems the trend toward getting back to the good is coming because people are comparable to last year," said Frenton.
Whether listening to the NRF or Frenton, sales will most likely be down -- at least slightly -- as the experts expect the grim economic reaper to hang around for at least another season.
