(Filed Under wholesale Costume News). The Halloween & Party Expo, scheduled for Jan. 25 to 28, 2014, is expecting a monster turnout this year, based on recent reports that indicate the holiday has garnered sales increases of 130 percent in the U.S. over the last decade.

According to a report from the National Retail Federation, sales of costumes, candy, party favors, décor and other Halloween-inspired items are expected to have approximately 158 million Americans spending nearly $7 billion in 2013.

Additionally, haunted attractions are growing in popularity, with the NRF reporting that more than 20 percent of those surveyed saying they will visit such an attraction in 2013. More than 2,500 haunted attractions around the world are contributing to a projected $300 million revenue for the industry this year.

Halloween & Party Expo’s Jonathan Erwin also cites popular culture as an influence on the holiday, with shows like “The Walking Dead” and “True Blood” making creatures like zombies and vampires a part of everyday life instead of creatures that consumers consider for a few weeks a year.

“If you really want to be in the Halloween business, you need to do so in a comprehensive way,” Erwin said in a statement. “Halloween is everywhere these days, so adding a few decorations for a couple weeks just won’t cut it. The consumer won’t think of you for their Halloween purchases unless you make a statement.”

The Halloween & Party Expo commonly sees upward of 350 exhibitors and 6,500 buyers and attendees from more than 44 countries, and this January, the Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Conference, or HAuNTcon, will also be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston concurrently with HPE. To register or find more information, visit the event’s website at HalloweenPartyExpo.com.

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Published 10-17-2013 by Katherine Rautenberg