As Halloween nears, the University of South Florida (USF) is making its faculty available to discuss a range of topics relevant to the holiday, from consumer spending and tariffs to artificial intelligence and public safety.
USF economics associate professor Michael Snipes highlighted the potential impact of tariffs on prices for Halloween-related goods. “Some businesses may absorb the tariffs through lower margins. Others may pass the cost on to the consumer,” he said.
Carol Osborne, senior instructor in marketing and promotion, noted that consumer spending typically rises significantly before Halloween and expects this year’s numbers to reach record levels.
Artificial intelligence is also influencing how people prepare for Halloween. John Licato, associate professor at USF’s Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, explained that AI can now assist with party planning. “People can use AI to generate costume ideas based on personality or favorite character. It can also generate spooky stories or haunted house scripts,” Licato said.
Professor Dipayan Biswas added that smart technologies are increasingly used in marketing and retail environments for Halloween items such as costumes and food, using elements like color and scent to enhance consumer experience.
On the psychological side of Halloween traditions, USF doctoral student Tara Perreault shared insights from her research into fear during haunted house experiences. “Fear brings people closer – but not in the way you’d expect. It’s usually the person you felt least close to at the start, like a coworker or friend-of-a-friend, who you end up bonding with the most,” she said.
For those interested in historical context, professor Jennifer Knight can provide information about Halloween’s origins in medieval history.
Jill Roberts, associate professor of public health at USF, offers guidance on ensuring candy safety for children during trick-or-treating activities.
Crime prevention is another area where USF expertise is available. Assistant professor YongJei Lee pointed out that criminal activity tends to rise on October 31st based on recent data trends. “Our AI/Machine Learning hotspot-forecasting model flags Halloween risk spikes so police can time patrols, refine alerts and plan safer routes,” Lee stated.
Costume design expert Del Rinehart encouraged creativity while saving money: “’Do-it-yourself’ costumes are becoming a big deal around the Halloween holiday. They can be easy to create and cost close to nothing.”
The university encourages media representatives seeking interviews or more information on these topics—or others related to Halloween—to contact Ryan Hughes or consult USF’s Media Experts Guide for additional resources.
