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Candy prices got you scared stiff? What to know about the cost of Halloween this year
Candy and gum prices are up 7.7% in a year, but the National Retail Federation still expects Halloween spending to reach a record $13.5 billion.
- On Saturday, October 31, 2026, the National Retail Federation projected record Halloween spending of $13.5 billion, even as candy and gum prices rose 7.7% over the past year, outpacing overall inflation.
- Droughts in West Africa surged cocoa costs to more than $10,700 per tonne in January 2025, leaving consumer chocolate prices "sticky" due to production lag times, according to industry analysts.
- In its October 29 earnings release, Hershey reported net sales rose 3.0% to $3,275.5 million as the company raised prices about 13 points, absorbing an 11-point volume drop in North America Confectionery.
- NielsenIQ data shows Halloween treat sales fell 6.7% by mid-October as shoppers, facing affordability pressures, shifted to smaller packages and alternative products despite holiday enthusiasm.
- The next Consumer Price Index report, scheduled for November 10, 2026, will clarify whether candy inflation continues cooling after recent federal data showed prices rising faster than overall inflation.
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12 Articles
12 Articles
Candy prices surge beyond inflation, but Americans still plan to spend billions on Halloween - NEW YORK TIMES POST
Trick-or-treating, like most expenses recently, will come with a bigger price tag this Halloween. The increase is hitting as families prepare for a holiday built around candy. Shoppers, however, still plan to spend billions on Halloween treats, even as rising prices make affordability part of the seasonal calculation. Candy prices rose 7.7% over the year [...]
In Biden's First Halloween In Office, A 100-Piece Bag Of Candy Cost $9.91, A Study Found. This Year It's $16.96, And Government Data Shows Candy Prices Rose 7.7% In A Year, More Than Double Overall Inflation
Halloween candy prices have climbed far faster than anything else in your shopping cart, and Hershey's latest earnings report reveals exactly why candy makers have little reason to stop raising prices anytime soon.
·Lakewood, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Left, 40% Center
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left, 40% of the sources are Center
40% Center
L 40%
C 40%
R 20%
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