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Americans are expected to spend an average of $20.75 per costume in 2009, down from $24.00 in 2008. There are 2,011 costume-rental and formalwear shops across the nation to accessorize people for Halloween and other occasions.

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Recognize My Disguise?

The average household plans to spend almost $18 this year on candy, down $1.39 from 2008. Trick-or-treaters say chocolate is the most sought-after goodie, while fruit is the least desired. Surprise, surprise.

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Give Me Something Good to Eat

47.3% of households plan on decorating this year, down from 50.3% in 2008. Halloween is second only to Christmas in spending on decorations. As a way to curb spending this year, 35% of consumers will use last year's decorations again.

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Extreme Halloween Home Makeover

More than 20,000 people gather each year near Bridgeville, Del., to watch orbs of orange fruit (yes, pumpkins are botanically classified as fruit) being flung across an open field. At the World Championship Punkin' Chunkin' contest, 72 teams of innovators compete to hurl pumpkins the farthest distance. This trebuchet designed by Team Yankee Seige (at right) holds the world record in the Adult Trebuchet category with a distance of 1,897.47 feet -- that's more than a quarter of a mile!
This year's contest will take place November 6-8, after Halloween is over.

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Smashing Pumpkins