Halloween costumes tariffs prices.

A family that runs two costume stores in Chicago is putting a creative twist on Halloween this year due to tariffs on Chinese imports. Chicago Costume owner Courtland Hickey says he ordered 40% fewer new costumes because of the increased costs. Instead, he and his mother, who founded the business, are repurposing unsold inventory. They’re transforming vintage pieces and surplus items into sets, and having employees sew fabric and foam scraps into headwear. Hickey says such resourcefulness is required for small independent stores to survive. He initially hoped the tariffs would make it easier to compete against chains stores like Walmart and Spirit Halloween but says the largest retailers dropped their costume prices.