It’s the burning question of the day: “Will the state of the U.S. economy affect your Halloween plans?” asks a National Retail Federation survey to some 6,300 respondents.

The answer: 81 percent said dismal financial reports would not deter them from whooping it up on Friday and throughout the weekend. The practical translation: Americans will spend $7.4 billion on Halloween this year, the industry group says — that includes $350 million that will go towards pet costumes.

Yes, you read that right: $350 million spent on pet costumes for dogs and cats in holiday mode. And one other thing. The nation also spent more on adult Halloween costumes this year than on those for the children — $1.4 billion on the fancy duds for the big people, and a mere $1.1 billion for the kids.

A creative 20 percent, however, choose to make their costumes.

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