San Diego Halloween shoppers hit by higher costs from tariffs

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- San Diegans gearing up for Halloween are facing higher costs for costumes and decorations due to tariffs on goods from China.

Despite the increased prices, shoppers are not deterred, and local shops are finding ways to adapt to the changes.

"Every day is getting busier. It probably just hit maybe last week," said Joelle Martenson, owner of Gypsy Treasure in La Mesa.

Joelle Martenson and her husband own Gypsy Treasure, a year-round costume shop in La Mesa, where Halloween accounts for roughly 30% of their annual sales.

Martenson notes that prices on some items have increased by $1 to $2 compared to last year due to tariffs on Chinese imports.

The Halloween & Costume Association reports that about 90% of Halloween products contain at least one component made overseas, primarily in China.

Martenson explains that to keep prices low for customers, they have absorbed a lot of the extra costs.

Allison Handshuh, a local shopper, opted to rent costumes for a party, citing high prices and low quality at other stores.

The National Retail Federation predicts that consumers will spend $2 billion on costumes for adults, with overall Halloween spending expected to reach a record $13.1 billion this year.

With Halloween spending expected to reach new heights, local businesses like Gypsy Treasure continue to cater to the festive spirit despite the challenges posed by increased costs.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KSWB. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KSWB staff before being published.