A family-owned costume store takes tariffs as a Halloween challenge
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President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports are reducing inventory and raising prices for Halloween costumes for American importers, retailers and shoppers. (AP Video/Terry Chea) Owner Courtland Hickey holds a Pokemon costume from 2024, left, and one from this year, right, at Chicago Costume, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) A variety of face masks line the shelves at the House of Humor costume shop in Redwood City, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.
AI Summary
Main Idea: Chicago Costume is cutting orders, raising some prices, and using old stock to cope with Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports ahead of Halloween.
Key Points:
- Owner Courtland Hickey said the Chicago shop ordered 40% fewer costumes this year because tariffs made new imports more expensive.
- The store is sorting through years of stored inventory and repurposing older items into new costumes to save money.
- Some Halloween products, especially licensed children’s costumes and larger sets, will cost at least 25% more, and discounts will be fewer.
- Trick or Treat Studios and other Halloween businesses have also felt the impact, with layoffs, higher prices, and shifts away from China-based production.
Impact on the People
Negative Impact
Tariffs are making Halloween costumes pricier and less available, so households may pay more or buy fewer items. Small shops like Chicago Costume and Trick or Treat Studios may cut staff, orders, and discounts.
Positive Impact
No clear positive impact identified.
How did each entity affect people?
Rate how each entity in this article affected the American people.
- Primary:Chicago Costumecompany
- Primary:Courtland Hickeyperson
Candidate Entities10 candidates · 5 weighted vote min · 70% decision
- Chicago CostumecompanyPrimaryEvaluated
Central family-owned costume business directly affected by tariffs and the main example in the story.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Courtland HickeypersonPrimaryEvaluated
Owner of Chicago Costume and a central source describing how tariffs changed ordering, inventory, and pricing.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - President Donald TrumppersonMajorAI selected
His tariffs on Chinese imports are the key policy driver affecting Halloween costume inventory and prices.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Trick or Treat StudioscompanyMajorAI selected
Named company experiencing layoffs, price increases, and supply-chain shifts because of tariffs.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Chicago Costumebrand / productContextCandidate
Commercial store brand central to the article’s discussion of pricing and inventory changes.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - Christopher ZephropersonContextCandidate
Co-founder of Trick or Treat Studios, cited as another small-business owner affected by tariffs.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold - House of HumorcompanyContextCandidate
Named costume shop mentioned as another affected business.
Include 0 (0%)Ignore 0 (0%)5 to threshold
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