Halloween candy sales dip as rising costs curb consumer spending
U.S. candy sales for Halloween fell 6.7% in mid-October amid higher chocolate prices and tighter household budgets, though overall holiday spending is still expected to grow.
U.S. candy sales for Halloween are lagging behind last year, with a 6.7% decline in the week ending Oct. 17 compared with the same period in 2025, according to NielsenIQ data cited by the Associated Press. The market research firm also noted an 11.7% drop in candy sales in mid-September, erasing gains recorded in the two preceding years.
Prices for candy and gum have risen 44% over the past five years, outpacing the 22.5% increase in prices for food eaten at home. In August, candy and chewing-gum prices were up 8.1% year over year, more than double the overall consumer-price increase of 3.4% for the same month.
"Higher expenses for gas, housing and groceries are leaving some consumers with less money to spend on Halloween candy," said Chris Costagli, vice president at NielsenIQ.
Chocolate costs have been driven higher by record cocoa prices, which reached $10,710 per metric ton in January 2025 after poor weather in West Africa and speculative trading. Disruptions to fertilizer supplies linked to the Iran war and forecasts of hot, dry conditions from El Niño have added to concerns about cocoa production.
Shoppers appear to be adjusting their purchasing habits. NielsenIQ reported that only small-bag packages recorded sales growth through mid-October, while large and extra-large bags saw the steepest declines. Some consumers are also delaying purchases, making smaller, more frequent grocery trips closer to the holiday.
"Consumers have increasingly been making smaller, more frequent grocery trips and buying products closer to when they plan to use them," said Sally Lyons Wyatt, global executive vice president and food-industry adviser at market-research firm Circana.
More than a third of shoppers surveyed by the National Retail Federation said they would compare prices if Halloween merchandise costs more than expected, and over a quarter planned to look for coupons or sales.
Despite the slowdown in candy sales, the National Retail Federation projects total Halloween spending to reach $13.5 billion, up from $13.1 billion in 2025, with $4.1 billion expected for candy. The National Confectioners Association expressed optimism, stating that consumer enthusiasm remains strong.
"I do believe we will still see softness overall with candy, but I don’t think Halloween is doomed," Lyons Wyatt told the AP.