Halloween spend is up to $114.45 so every trick could be a money-saving treat

By Kyle James, Reporter

• Average Halloween spend is hitting a record $114.45 per person in 2025 (NRF).
• Candy target: 12 per fun-sizewait until the week before Halloween and mix chocolate + gummies to hit the mark.
• Post-Halloween power buy window: Nov 13Spirit costumes typically drop 25% 50%, and dcor at many stores hits up to 75% off.

Halloween gets expensive fast. After you buy candy, costumes, food for a party, maybe a decoration for the yard, it can easily blow your monthly budget. According to the National Retail Federation, the average per-person spending for 2025 is set to reach a record high of $114.45. But with a little strategy, you can easily lower that number without being the house that hands out raisins.

Candy: chase the 12 per fun-size rule

When it comes to getting ready for trick-or-treaters, I shoot for only buying candy when it hits the 12 per fun-size piece. Thats my line in the sand.

The secret? Wait until the week before Halloween to buy. This is when retailers typically start to clear out their candy supply at a discount. Stores that typically hit this mark include Walmart, drugstores like CVS and Walgreens, and even your local grocery stores get close when you use a BOGO offer or digital coupon.

How I do it:

Check unit price, not the bag price. A 65-count bag for $15 is 23 each. No good. Wait for that bag to drop below $10 (and it will), then youre getting close to the 12 mark.

Mix one chocolate bag + one gummy/lollipop bag. Gummies and lollipops are a lot cheaper than chocolate, up to 40%. So be sure to buy some of each and mix them together and avoid paying chocolate prices for every piece.

Split with a neighbor so nobody overbuys. This way you wont be stuck eating 87 fun-size Snickers come November 2.

Costumes: build a $25 look that doesnt look cheap

Store costumes are expensive, especially when you visit places like Spirit Halloween where its easy to drop $50 for a costume youll wear once.

Instead, consider grabbing one anchor piece at a thrift store (black dress, army jacket, blazer, trench coat, denim overalls) and finish it with Dollar Tree accessories.

When you do it right, youre looking at a thrift anchor ($8$12), two dollar-store accessories ($2.50$5), face paint ($3$5), and one prop ($5). Done.

Here are some of my favorite repeatable builds using the anchor piece method:

An 80s rocker: thrifted leather/pleather jacket + eyeliner + hairspray + rock band tee.

Cowboy/cowgirl: thrifted plaid shirt + thrifted belt + bandana + cardboard belt buckle.

Ghost but make it funny: thrifted trench coat + white sheet + sunglasses.

Rosie the Riveter: thrifted chambray shirt + red bandana + rolled jeans.

Bob Ross: thrifted denim/chambray shirt + curly wig (or tousled hair) + DIY palette (cardboard with paint blobs) + paintbrush.

Tourist: loud shirt/Hawaiian + shorts + socks-with-sandals + sunglasses + printed map or camera-on-lanyard.

Decor: dupe the look, not the price

When it comes to Halloween dcor that wont break the bank, you can easily get the Pinterest vibe with three big moves. Focus on these instead of buying a bunch of little budget busters that will leave you wanting more.

Heres my 3-piece formula thatll get your home in the spirit for less.

1. One large focal item by the front door: could be a tall DIY porch sign or a thrifted lantern filled with dollar-store faux webs and a puck light.

2. Lighting: swap out your porch clear bulbs to orange or use warm-white string lights you already own and wind them through branches or a nearby railing.

3. Texture: drop a $10 straw bale by the door, set two pumpkins on top, then add movement with a few strips of black fabric (or trash-bag ribbons) tied to the twine that holds the bale together. Then let the strips hang free and flutter in the breeze.

Pro Tip: Buy your pumpkins at a produce stand or farmers market toward closing or ask for the ugly bin. Youll score a markdown on the surface-scuffed pumpkins that carve just fine.

Party on $40: board + bowl + one bake

Having a son that was born on Halloween, my wife and I have hosted our fair share of budget-friendly parties on the 31st. We always focused on a simple and colorful food spread that feels themed without 12 separate recipes.

Heres what to focus on:

Snack board: Heres where you get creative and think of as many orange, black, and white foods as you can. Think cheddar cubes, carrot sticks, black licorice bites, Oreos, pretzels, and marshmallows. Then place them on a snack board in stripes or whatever charcuterie pattern you can come up with. You end up with a simple, budget-friendly food display that fits the mood.

Big punch of bowl: A 2-ingredient sherbet punch (orange sherbet + lemon-lime soda) with floating gummy worms will be a hit. If you want to go the extra step, buy a small piece of dry ice from the grocery store and put in the bowl to get the witchs brew steam effect.

One bake: Try your hand at mummy dogs which are hot dogs wrapped with crescent dough with two mustard eyes. Or a graveyard brownie slab which is simply box brownies, crushed cookies or frosting for dirt, then topped with Milano tombstones cookies.

Stretch the budget with a post-Halloween power buy list

Did you pass on a Halloween decoration or costume this year because of sticker shock? If so, November 13rd is the time to buy Halloween items at a deep discount and store until next October.

Items to consider:

LED string lights and net lights. You can find great clearance deals on Halloween specific lights at Walmart, Target, and even drugstores. Often up to 75% off the original retail price.

Costumes for less. Most pop-up Spirit Halloween stores close 2-3 days after Halloween, providing a great chance to save on next years costume. Typically, costumes are 25% off on November 1st, then drop to 50% off on the 2nd and 3rd. Decorations usually start at 50% off and stay there until they close their doors on the 3rd.

Yard stakes, extension cords, timers. Not fun things per say, but theyre the things you kick yourself for paying full price later.

Face paint and costume makeup. Keep in mind that its the same stuff youll need for school plays or spirit week. So, buy it at a big discount before youre stuck paying full-price down the road.

Storage: Grab one black and orange storage bin, label it Halloween, and force yourself to fit everything in that one bin next year. Okay, maybe youll need two, but hey no worries, theyre pretty cheap in early November.

More than two-thirds of products tested exceeded recommended levels of heavy metals

• Report finds two-thirds of tested powders exceed safety limits
• Plant-based, organic, and chocolate-flavored products top the risk list
• Experts say contamination comes from soil, manufacturing, and flavoring agents

A new round of independent testing has found that many protein powders still contain measurableand sometimes alarmingamounts of lead and other heavy metals. Despite years of warnings, researchers say contamination remains a widespread problem in the booming $8 billion supplement market.

In its latest analysis of 23 popular powders and ready-to-drink shakes, Consumer Reports said that more than two-thirds contained more lead per serving than its recommended daily safety benchmark. Several exceeded that limit tenfold. Elevated levels of cadmium and inorganic arsenic were also detected in some samples.

Plant-based powders made from peas, rice, or hemp were consistently the worst offenders. Dairy-based and collagen products generally fared better, but none were completely free of heavy metals.

Clean Label Project finds similar results

A separate investigation by the Clean Label Project earlier this year reached nearly identical conclusions. Testing 160 powders from 70 brandsrepresenting roughly 80% of the marketit found that 47% exceeded Californias Proposition 65 limits for at least one toxic metal. Organic and chocolate-flavored formulas were most likely to test high.

Californias Prop 65 threshold for lead0.5 micrograms per dayis far stricter than federal guidance. The FDAs Interim Reference Level allows 8.8 micrograms per day for women of childbearing age and 2.2 micrograms for children. Industry groups argue that the states standards are unrealistically low, but consumer advocates counter that no amount of lead is truly safe.

Heavy metals occur naturally in soil and water, but experts say contamination can also happen during manufacturing or from added ingredients like cocoa powder. Pea and rice proteins are especially vulnerable because the plants readily absorb metals from the soil.

What consumers can do

Nutritionists recommend buying powders that carry third-party certifications, such as NSF Certified for Sport, USP Verified, or ConsumerLab.com approval. Those seals indicate that a product has been independently tested for contaminants.
Other steps:

• Favor whey or collagen-based powders over plant-based varieties.

• Choose vanilla or unflavored options instead of chocolate.

• Treat powders as a supplementnot a substitutefor food-based protein.

If youve bought one of these protein powders

Check the label.
Look for the products lot number and manufacturer. Cross-reference it with the latest lists from Consumer Reports or Clean Label Project. If your brand was included in recent testing, see whether it exceeded safety limits.

Ask for a Certificate of Analysis (COA).
Reputable supplement makers will provide a COA from a third-party lab verifying heavy metal levels. If the company refuses or provides only vague assurances, treat that as a red flag.

Stop using suspect products immediately.
Lead and cadmium accumulate over time. If youve been consuming a powder daily, discontinue use and switch to a certified low-contaminant brand.

Report it.
File a complaint with the FDAs MedWatch program or the California Attorney Generals Office if the product makes misleading clean or heavy metalfree claims.

Consider medical testing.
If youve used large quantities for monthsespecially if pregnant, breastfeeding, or giving it to childrenconsult your doctor about a blood lead test.

PREVENTION TIPS

• Dont chase natural labels. Organic certification doesnt guarantee puritymetals come from soil, not pesticides.

• Mind the serving size. Even safe products can exceed exposure limits if you double-scoop.

• Blend whole foods instead. Greek yogurt, eggs, tofu, or nuts provide comparable protein without the contamination risk.

• Avoid powders marketed for kids. Children are more susceptible to leads neurological effects.

Prices are edging closer to $2.99 as oil markets rebound slightly

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The national average price of gasoline fell 6.4 cents in the past week to $3.02 per gallon, according to GasBuddy data.

• The average is 13.7 cents lower than a month ago and 14.4 cents cheaper than a year ago.

• Diesel prices declined 3.5 cents, bringing the national average to $3.63 per gallon.

For the first time in years, U.S. motorists may soon see the national average gas price dip below $3 per gallon. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said prices have fallen in most of the country, setting the stage for continued relief at the pump.

Americans appear to be on the cusp of seeing the national average drop below $3 per gallon and potentially stay there for the first time in years, De Haan said in the companys blog. With well over 40 states seeing gas prices decline and oil plunging below $60 per barrel, we could even see a handful of stations in places like Oklahoma, Texas, or even Wisconsin drop below $2 per gallon in the weeks ahead.

De Haan also noted that with wages rising and fuel prices falling, consumers are spending the smallest share of their income on gasoline in years a welcome reprieve after years of volatile energy costs.

Trade tensions and OPEC output

Oil markets were shaken last week after President Trump threatened new tariffs on China in response to restrictions on rare earth exports. The prospect of a renewed trade war sent WTI crude tumbling below $60 per barrel before recovering slightly early Monday to $59.49, down from $61.85 a week earlier. Brent crude traded at $63.32, down from $65.56 last Monday.

UBS commodities analyst Giovanni Staunovo said that ongoing tensions between the worlds two largest economies have weighed on demand expectations. Meanwhile, continued production increases from OPEC+ have added pressure to already soft markets.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administrations latest report, U.S. crude inventories rose by 3.7 million barrels during the week ending October 3, 2025, though levels remain about 4% below seasonal norms. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve increased slightly to 407 million barrels.

Gasoline inventories dropped 1.6 million barrels, about 1% below the five-year seasonal average, while distillate stocks fell 2.0 million barrels. Refinery utilization rose to 92.4%, and gasoline demand jumped by more than 400,000 barrels per day, signaling resilient consumer fuel use even as prices decline.

Gas price trends

The most common pump price across the U.S. is $2.79 per gallon, with the median price at $2.85, roughly 17 cents below the national average.

States leading the nation with the lowest prices include Oklahoma ($2.50), Mississippi ($2.62), and Texas ($2.62). On the high end, California ($4.62), Hawaii ($4.46), and Washington ($4.41) remain the most expensive markets.

The largest weekly drops were seen in Ohio (-18.3), Michigan (-13.9), and Indiana (-13.4), while Texas and Washington also posted double-digit declines.

Sixty models sold for more than $75,000 in September

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The average new-vehicle price in the U.S. surpassed $50,000 for the first time in September.
• Electric vehicles hit record highs in both sales and market share, despite elevated prices.
• Rising luxury and EV sales continue to push transaction prices upward amid modest incentive growth.

The average transaction price (ATP) for a new vehicle in the United States exceeded $50,000 for the first time in September, marking a milestone in the ongoing rise of vehicle costs, according to new data from Kelley Blue Book.

The average new-car buyer paid $50,080 last month, up 2.1% from August and 3.6% higher year over year the largest annual gain since spring 2023.

Incentive spending rose modestly to 7.4% of ATP, or about $3,700 per vehicle, the highest level so far in 2025. The average manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) or sticker price climbed to a record $52,183, up 4.2% year over year.

Kelley Blue Book analysts say the continued strength of the luxury and electric vehicle markets helped push prices into record territory. More than 60 models carried ATPs above $75,000, representing 7.4% of total industry sales. The Cadillac Escalade remained a standout, with 4,320 units sold in September.

Wealthier buyers are driving the market

Erin Keating, executive analyst at Cox Automotive, said the pricing trends reflect an increasingly bifurcated market.

It is important to remember that the new-vehicle market is inflationary, Keating said. Todays auto market is being driven by wealthier households who have access to capital, good loan rates and are propping up the higher end of the market.

Keating noted that tariffs have added cost pressure but attributed most of Septembers price growth to the mix of high-end and electric models. She added that the milestone was only a matter of time, pointing out that Americas best-selling vehicle the Ford F-Series pickup often sells for more than $65,000.

EV sales surged as tax break expired

Electric vehicle (EV) sales hit a new record in the third quarter of 2025, with 437,487 units sold and a market share of 10.5%. Buyers rushed to close deals before federal EV incentives expired at the end of September, pushing sales nearly 30% higher than a year earlier.

The average EV transaction price reached $58,124, up 3.5% from August but essentially flat year over year. Incentive spending for EVs fell slightly to 15.3% of ATP, or about $8,900 per vehicle.

Teslas ATP declined to $54,138 in September, down 6.8% year over year, as the company prepared to introduce lower-priced versions of its Model 3 and Model Y a shift that could bring down overall EV prices in the months ahead.

With record transaction prices, expanding EV adoption, and rising luxury demand, analysts suggest the auto industry may be approaching a tipping point. While the top end of the market remains robust, price-sensitive consumers are increasingly turning to used vehicles or delaying purchases altogether.