Tricks, Treats and Trends

About this episode

Americans are expected to spend a record $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, according to the National Retail Federation. That includes costumes, decorations and lots of candy. In this episode of “The Sunday Daily,” our host Rachel Abrams talks about these three tent poles of the Halloween season with reporters from across the Times newsroom. Kim Severson, who covers food, tells us about the sour, peelable and texture-confused candy edging out longtime chocolate favorites. Louis Lucero II, an editor for style coverage, predicts the most popular costumes of the year. And Callie Holtermann, a reporter who covers style and pop culture, discusses the enduring joy of “Skelly,” the 12-foot-tall Home Depot skeleton with a cult following. On Today’s Episode: Kim Severson covers all aspects of food culture for The New York Times. Louis Lucero II, an editor for style coverage for The New York Times. Callie Holtermann, a reporter who writes about style, pop culture and Gen Z for The New York Times. Background Reading: • Halloween Costume Ideas That Scream 2026 • Still the Biggest Skeleton In the Game? Photo credit: The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit