If you’re planning to shoot off some fireworks in your backyard to celebrate the Fourth of July, you’re far from alone.

Americans spent nearly $825 million on consumer fireworks in 2016, a figure that many industry experts expect will be surpassed this year. That translates into more than 240 million pounds of fireworks that will be shot off in backyards and driveways from coast to coast. Both numbers have risen steadily for nearly 20 years, despite the rest of the American economy experiencing significant boom and bust cycles during that time.

“The consumer fireworks industry is recession resistant,” says Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association — a leading industry trade group. “It’s affordable family fun. In those years when the economy was incredibly tight, it was affordable to stay home for the Fourth of July and get with neighbors and have a nice celebration at home.”

In recent years, several states have loosened restrictions on the sale of many types of consumer fireworks with an eye toward realizing significant tax revenues. The most recent to do so, Iowa, has issued more than 600 licenses to sell fireworks since its new law took effect June 1. However, cities there still have the option of upholding certain local bans on fireworks usage that were previously in place.

“We’ve heard complaints about people shooting them off outside the (prescribed) hours,” said Dan Wood, acting special agent in charge at the Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office. “I’m sure we’ll hear some general noise complaints. As with anything else, there’s growing pains. We’ll do what we’re asked to do and go forward from there.”

Sarah Johnson owns a bar in Clinton, Iowa, and plans to sell fireworks leading up to the holiday. Despite the city’s existing ban on using them, she’s in the process of obtaining a permit to sell and expects sales to be brisk.

“Our expectations are still pretty high when it comes to selling the fireworks,” Johnson told the Clinton, Iowa Herald. “We’re still going through with it, we’re still in the process and confident we’ll get the permit, and even though they might still be illegal to shoot, I’m sure our sales could still be very good.”

At the end of the day, the simple attraction of lighting up a firecracker or watching one explode is what Heckman believes makes them an indispensable part of the holiday.

“There’s an incredible allure to using backyard fireworks,” she said. “It’s a tradition celebrating our pride and patriotism.”

Details for this story were provided by the Clinton, Iowa Herald.