According to the National Retail Federation (motto: “Proudly middlemansplaining since 1911”), Americans set a Halloween spending record of $12.2 billion in 2023.

(And that didn’t even include earplugs for muffling the seasonal onslaught of “spooktacular,” “boo-tiful,” “to die for” and other undead “dad jokes” shambling in from Father’s Day.)

But, citing research from Lending Tree, “Newsweek” magazine says 59 percent of Halloween spenders plan to scale back purchases this year because of tighter budgets.

Inflation-battered neighbors are being less competitive about outdoor decorations. Not only can fancy-schmancy store-bought cobwebs be replaced with cobwebs from the average voter’s copy of the U.S. Constitution, but other macabre scenes can be simplified as well. (“You say ‘red Solo cup and coffee stirrers.’ I say ‘witch’s cauldron 2024.’ Tomato, to-mah-to.”)

Savvy shoppers are accepting ultra-generic........

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