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Earlier this week, it was reported that just three floats had been registered for the Greenwich Village Halloween parade, which will undoubtedly make the annual event more a picture of lameness rather than one of guts and gore as it was in years past. Now it turns out that the number of people planning to celebrate the holiday this year is down to just 62 percent. Of those revelers, a measly 33 percent are dressing up, and only 42 percent are planning to carve a pumpkin. What's next, no more pumpkin pie?

"The economy has caught up to Halloween this year," explains Tracy Mullin, President and CEO of the National Retail Federation, who says that "people are looking to celebrate on a budget."

So if you're thinking of dropping $200 on that Wolverine costume, bear in mind you're going to look like you're trying way too hard. The real tragedy here, though, is that thousands of women just dying to embrace their inner slut won't invest in that plaid schoolgirl mini in XXS, and countless lonely pumpkins will be left to rot alone on bodega produce displays, never getting to fulfill their Halloween dreams.

But in the interest of making sure Halloween in New York City doesn't totally suck this year, why not invest in a low-budget option? You could simply put on a suit, stuff a wad of fake bills in your pocket, plaster an evil grin on your face, and go as a Wall Street CEO. We just can't promise you'll be safe on the streets.

— Molly Fahner

NRF Survey Suggests Consumers Will Spend Less This Halloween [Poynter]