Expert debates reason why Halloween candy prices continue to soar
Halloween candy is more expensive than ever, forcing around 35 percent of consumers to cancel holiday celebrations in favour of saving some money, according to a new report.
While some of us have been slurping Starbucks’ spooky season spectacular and purchasing pumpkins to carve in front of the latest Netflix filler, others have been heading to Costco, Walmart, and other supermarkets to pick up trick-or-treat candy.
If you’ve perused the shelves recently, you may have noticed the prices are pretty scary.
Statistics suggest that various Halloween candy varieties have jumped 15 percent in price from last year, with the average price of a 100-piece bag ($16.96) increasing by a jaw-dropping 71 percent since 2021, as per FinanceBuzz.
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Sadly, a survey conducted by The New York Times has found that because of this massive price hike, 90 percent of people are adjusting their approach to handing out themed sweet stuff this year.
Frankly, the price is too high to justify, especially given the increase in fuel, housing, and clothing costs, claimed Chris Costagli, a vice president and food thought leader at NielsenIQ.
“Some of the decisions they’re making about Halloween candy, it’s not necessarily because, ‘I notice it’s more expensive than last year,’ it’s, ‘I can’t afford it this year because I’ve paid so much more for so many other things. I just don’t have the financial means to buy it this year,” he said to the Associated Press.
This—coupled with the fact that cocoa prices reached a record high of $10,710 per metric ton in January 2025 because of poor weather in West Africa—has led LendingTree to believe that a whopping 35 percent of regular consumers are now likely to skip out on candy ahead of the beloved holiday.
Experts have also suggested rising shipping costs and tariffs may be the cause of the price uptick, as per WTVA.
However, that doesn’t mean that everyone is willing to quit celebrating Halloween.
Instead of forking out for mini chocolates, homeowners are taking a different, budget-friendly approach, according to Sally Lyon Wyatt, an executive vice president for consumer goods and food service insights at market research firm Mintel.
“Candy might be part of it, but maybe not as much as it had been in the past. There’s just going to be a bit more creativity.”
Instead of classic wrapped chocolate, homeowners are filling bowls with temporary tattoos, stickers, low-cost trinkets, and cut-price items purchased from bargain grocery stores, as per the report.
Others are turning to non-chocolate Halloween candies, like gummies and lollipops, according to Costagli.
The average price of these ghoulish delights was $6.08 per pound in the nine weeks ending 17 October, about 3 percent lower than last year, according to Nielsen data.
Healthy Halloween snacks
Tesco currently has a ‘Healthy Halloween snacks and treats’ section full of balanced recipes that can act as a great alternative to chocolate favourites.
Recipes include cheesy witches fingers, billed as an excellent variant to pizza; so-called ‘fearsome fruits’, like fruit-stuffed watermelon jack-o’-lanterns, poached pear ghosts and ‘frightful frogs’ made with sliced kiwi and strawberries.
“As thoughts turn to creepy costumes and trick-or-treating, here are a few healthy Halloween snacks to help you enjoy a more balanced feast,” the website states.
“From ghoulish poached pears to cute chocolate banana ghosts, these easy recipes are perfect spooky Halloween treats.”
Ella Scott