Halloween candy prices rise 71% since 2021, study shows
A study of major U.S. supermarkets finds the cost of a 100-piece bag of Halloween candy has increased 71% over the past five years, outpacing overall inflation.
A recent analysis of bulk Halloween candy prices at Walmart, Target, Kroger and Albertsons indicates that the cost of a 100-piece bag has risen 71% since 2021, far exceeding the national inflation rate of about 22% over the same period. The average price for such a bag this year is $16.96, up 3.5% from the previous year and $7.05 higher than in 2021. Between 2023 and 2026, the price increased by $5.05, compared with a $1.70 rise from 2021 to 2023.
The study notes that each individual piece now costs roughly 17 cents. Prices in New York City are higher; a 75-piece bag at a Target store in Times Square costs $20.68, or about 28 cents per piece. Comparable packs at nearby CVS and Walgreens are priced at $23.40 for 100 pieces and $30 for 150 pieces, respectively.
Analysts attribute the surge to higher cocoa costs, which reached a record $12,000 per ton in 2024 due to supply challenges in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Although sugar prices have fallen, expenses for vegetable oil, labor, energy, packaging and transportation have risen. Packaging materials, derived from petrochemicals, have also become more expensive amid disruptions in resin supplies.
Overall consumer spending on Halloween is projected to reach $13.5 billion this year. The report also mentions lower-cost alternatives such as honey-stick packs, pretzel snacks and non-candy party favors, which some shoppers are turning to in response to higher candy prices.