Halloween now ranks as the second biggest holiday for retailers behind Christmas. Sales have grown to $5 billion, up from $3 billion just two years ago.

Why have sales nearly doubled in the last two years?

Here what I think:

1. Candy sales… Consumers spend $2 billion a year on candy.

2. All-inclusive… This holiday is not linked to a particular religious sector. 93% of children under the age of 12 go trick-or-treating and 60% of adults celebrate, with a surprising 50% of them dressing up for the holiday.

3. Decorating… The fastest-growing segment of Halloween sales is outdoor decor. 86% of Americans decorate their houses for Halloween (both indoors and outdoors).

4. Nostalgic.. We all loved trick-or-treating as kids, so it's fun to participate in the holiday as an adult (particularly if we have kids of our own!).

I hope you had fantastic Halloween sales this year. Now it's time to gear up for a big Christmas season. Stay tuned next week for more holiday sales tips.