Halloween is second only to Christmas in the holiday decorations market. In 2006, American consumers spent $3.2 billion buying Halloween decorations, which is more than 21 percent higher than their expenditures in 2005, according to a new study of the seasonal decorations market by Unity Marketing, a research and consulting firm headquartered in Stevens, PA.

"We expect this Halloween season to be even stronger, thanks to people's fascination with ghosts and the supernatural," said Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing, and author of, "Shopping: Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Customer Experience." Danziger said the interest is partially spawned by popular cable shows like The Travel Channel's, "Most Haunted," and SciFi's, "Ghost Hunters."

"When it comes to decorating for Halloween, it isn't enough any more to spend a few dollars at the farm stand for a pumpkin to carve," she continued. "This year's Halloween decorating has gone over the top, with items like the full sized animated Halloween witch, available for $229 from the Grandin Road catalog."

"And its not just Halloween decorations that are in demand this fall," Danziger added. Her company's report noted that about $5 billion of the industry's $19.2 billion in retail sales were generated from fall decorations, including back to school, Halloween, Thanksgiving and harvest home seasonal decorations.

The study, "The Seasonal Decorations Report, 2007 Update," is based upon research conducted with active holiday and seasonal decorations buyers, including results of surveys of 2,000 consumers in 2005 and 2006. For more information, visit: http://www.unitymarketingonline.com/cms_christmas/christmas.php
or call 717-336-1600.