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Has Halloween candy gotten more expensive? Here’s what the historical data shows

Two-thirds of Americans say they plan to hand out candy this Halloween.

Has Halloween candy gotten more expensive? Here’s what the historical data shows

Two-thirds of Americans say they plan to hand out candy this Halloween.

Spooky season is officially here. Halloween costumes and displays have been in stores since summer, giving families more time to shop and more pressure to spend. Since August, stores have been selling Halloween items. There's definitely this Halloween push or Halloween creep. That creep is about more than early displays. Tariffs on imports could also push up prices. *** lot of costumes that manufactured in China or other countries that have more significant tariffs on their imports, we may see prices going up. That's when buying used really makes sense. The National Retail Federation says each person will spend about $114 for Halloween this year, with overall spending valued at *** record $13.1 billion. $4.3 billion of that will be spent on costumes. Making them one of Halloween's biggest expenses. Consumer savings expert Andrea Warrock recommends shopping secondhand. You can go to local marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or go online to eBay or even *** site like Poshmark, where you can buy gently used Halloween costumes. You can also see if your community has *** buy nothing group on Facebook where locals give things away for free or try ***. To swap with your friends and neighbors. Maybe you can also trade costumes, have *** swap party with other families who have kids around the same age. Those same strategies work for Halloween decor too, which the NRF says will make up $4.2 billion in spending this year. But if you want something new, Warrock says discount stores can offer the best deals. My favorite places to shop for Halloween decor would be retail. Like HomeGoods or TJ Maxx, look for Halloween decor that will last though, so that this way, whatever you're buying this year, you know you'll have it for several years. And don't forget the candy. The NRF says we'll spend $3.9 billion on treats. The latest consumer price index also shows candy prices are up 8.1% from this time last year. Buying in bulk can't help, and splitting with neighbors stretches your dollars even further. I like to buy in bulk, especially from *** warehouse club store. This is where you're gonna get *** better bang for your buck. Another easy move check your store's weekly ad. Many grocery chains rotate candy sales, so planning your trip around those deals can score you the sweetest savings. And one last tip, if you're willing to cut it close, candy is often marked down the most on Halloween day itself. Reporting in Washington, I'm Amy Lo.
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Updated: 1:17 PM CDT Oct 31, 2025
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Has Halloween candy gotten more expensive? Here’s what the historical data shows

Two-thirds of Americans say they plan to hand out candy this Halloween.

vlog logo
Updated: 1:17 PM CDT Oct 31, 2025
Editorial Standards
Two-thirds of Americans say they plan to hand out candy this Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.Halloween participants will spend a record-breaking $3.9 billion on candy this year, up $400 million from last year, the survey found. So are Halloween celebrators buying more candy, or have goodies gotten pricier over the decades? The Get the Facts Data Team analyzed the prices of three classic Halloween candies trick-or-treaters would have found in their bags through the decades using newspaper archives.Click on the candy items below to see how the prices have changed throughout the years.How did we compare candy prices? The archival search was limited to the month of October, and the lowest available prices for the candies were recorded. To calculate what the cost of the candy was from one time period to another, the data team used the Consumer Price Index for the month of October from 1964 to the present day. CPI measures the average price change for items like groceries, housing and consumer goods.Candy bag sizes changed throughout the decades, so to fairly compare candy prices across the decades, the data team calculated how much an ounce of candy cost based on its original price, then determined what that would equal for a 16-ounce bag.An 11-ounce bag of candy corn priced at $1.66 may seem cheaper than a 16-ounce bag at $1.99. The 11-ounce bag comes out at about 19 cents per ounce, while the 16-ounce is closer to 15 cents. Are candy prices up?The price of a 16-ounce bag of candy corn was 39 cents in 1964. To adjust for inflation, that amount was divided by the CPI for October 1964 and then multiplied by the current CPI. In today’s dollars, that same bag of candy corn would cost $3.45. Last year, the bag sold for $2.99.The price of candy corn has increased by 806% from 1964 to 2024. But from 2019 to 2024, the treat’s price saw a slight 1% increase after adjusting for inflation.Among the three candies analyzed, Hershey’s Kisses experienced the largest price increase. In 2019, a 16-ounce bag was priced at $2.65, or $3.34 after adjusting for inflation. By last year, the candy sold for $5.48, roughly 69% higher than in 2019.Today, a 16-ounce bag of Hershey’s Kisses rings up at $6.24, up about 14% from last year. Candy corn is up 31% and Tootsie Roll Pops are up 29% over the same period.

Two-thirds of Americans say they plan to hand out candy this Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

Halloween participants will spend a record-breaking $3.9 billion on candy this year, up $400 million from last year, the survey found.

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So are Halloween celebrators buying more candy, or have goodies gotten pricier over the decades? The Get the Facts Data Team analyzed the prices of three classic Halloween candies trick-or-treaters would have found in their bags through the decades using newspaper archives.

Click on the candy items below to see how the prices have changed throughout the years.

How did we compare candy prices?

The archival search was limited to the month of October, and the lowest available prices for the candies were recorded. To calculate what the cost of the candy was from one time period to another, the data team used the Consumer Price Index for the month of October from 1964 to the present day. CPI measures the average price change for items like groceries, housing and consumer goods.

Candy bag sizes changed throughout the decades, so to fairly compare candy prices across the decades, the data team calculated how much an ounce of candy cost based on its original price, then determined what that would equal for a 16-ounce bag.

An 11-ounce bag of candy corn priced at $1.66 may seem cheaper than a 16-ounce bag at $1.99. The 11-ounce bag comes out at about 19 cents per ounce, while the 16-ounce is closer to 15 cents.

Are candy prices up?

The price of a 16-ounce bag of candy corn was 39 cents in 1964. To adjust for inflation, that amount was divided by the CPI for October 1964 and then multiplied by the current CPI. In today’s dollars, that same bag of candy corn would cost $3.45. Last year, the bag sold for $2.99.

The price of candy corn has increased by 806% from 1964 to 2024. But from 2019 to 2024, the treat’s price saw a slight 1% increase after adjusting for inflation.

Among the three candies analyzed, Hershey’s Kisses experienced the largest price increase. In 2019, a 16-ounce bag was priced at $2.65, or $3.34 after adjusting for inflation. By last year, the candy sold for $5.48, roughly 69% higher than in 2019.

Today, a 16-ounce bag of Hershey’s Kisses rings up at $6.24, up about 14% from last year. Candy corn is up 31% and Tootsie Roll Pops are up 29% over the same period.

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