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October 7, 2025

Trick or Treat: Chime Unmasks Who’s Really Spending on Halloween

Chime Team

Halloween isn’t just about costumes and candy — it’s a celebration of creativity, surprises, and the many ways people choose to boo-tifully express themselves. From last-minute costume runs to stocking up on sweets and transforming homes for trick-or-treaters, spending patterns reveal the trends, choices, and playful indulgences that make the season so uniquely engaging.

A new analysis of Chime® member spending reveals who’s going big on Halloween:

  • Where Halloween spirit runs highest: Nebraska ranked #1, spending 116% above the national average — followed by New Mexico (+89%), Idaho (+78%), and Montana (+73%). By contrast, Southern states like Louisiana (-39%), Alabama (-38%), and Georgia (-37%) spent the least, showing how regional traditions shape celebrations.

  • Gen Z leads the way: In 2024, Gen Z Chime members spent 35% more on Halloween relative to the national average. Millennials were just about at the national average, while Gen X (-47%) and Baby Boomers (-76%) spent well below the national average. This potentially points to a generational shift in priorities, as those without kids are likely spending less on Halloween.

  • Spookiest Cities: Omaha, NE, claims the title of spookiest Halloween city, with Chime members there spending 156% more than the national average on Halloween. Salinas, CA (138%) and Albuquerque, NM (123%) follow close behind.

  • The final-hour frenzy: October 31st itself is the biggest Halloween spending day of the season, with more than one-third of all Halloween-related spend made in the last week of October. From costumes to candy, many shoppers wait until the eleventh hour to splurge.

“Halloween isn’t just about candy and costumes — it’s a window into how people celebrate and express their creativity,” said Janelle Sallenave, Chime’s Chief Spending Officer. “Our data highlights the playful ways different generations and communities approach the season, from last-minute costume runs to unique regional traditions.”

Halloween may only last one night, but the spending tells a bigger story about how people celebrate. At Chime, we love seeing how our members embrace moments like this — big or small, spooky or sweet — in ways that bring joy all season long.

*Methodology: Chime calculated Halloween spending as a share of total spending on Chime debit and Credit Builder cards in each state, city, and generation in 2024 and calculated the percentage difference from the overall national average.