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Sales Boom For "Wealth" Halloween Costume NEW YORK -- American children are celebrating nearly a decade of economic growth in a novel way this October, as "Wealth," a Halloween costume designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier, has been flying off of retail shelves at a record-setting pace. "Halloween is the one day you can be anything you want to be," said Jeff Boladian, vice-president of marketing for JPG U.S. "And what we're finding out this year is that more than ever kids want to be a big pile of cash." The standard costume, carrying a retail price tag of $79.99, is comprised of camouflage-style pants ornamented with images of Benjamin Franklin, and a white T-shirt which reads "Got NASDAQ?" JPG has also introduced a tiered pricing scheme that allows high-end kids to accessorize with items like a $99 "Scary P.C.S." or the $399 "SDI Action Helmet." "The helmet is more about conspicuous consumption than obvious functionality," Gaultier writes in the costume instruction manual. "It lets kids experience the thrill of buying something worthless and expensive for the sole purpose of making others feel inadequate." Despite the success of "Wealth," which has completely sold out in certain parts of the country, some parents and consumer groups have expressed concern about the message that the costume sends to children. "Kids are developing attitudes and values now that will last well into adulthood," said Mary Ellen Frazier, a Skokie, IL homemaker. "Rather than dress as something tasteless and vulgar, I'm proud to say that my son William has chosen to dress as the hilarious Jar-Jar Binx instead." The complaints have not had obvious impact on sales, and JPG's Boladian seems unconcerned about the small amount of negative publicity elicited by Gaultier's high concept. "People have called our costume 'sick' and 'gross,' but I have only one response," Boladian said. "It's all about the benjamins, baby."