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. MORE