We all know Halloween is such a staple holiday to many children across the world, and it is the gateway to the holiday season. Children get to dress up as characters from their favorite games, TV shows and movies to collect candy from houses in their neighborhoods. However, due to a surge in prices of cocoa and candy, sales for Halloween candy are declining.
Halloween candy sales fell 6.7% in the month (which ended Oct. 17) compared to the same time frame last year. NielsenIQ, a market research firm, notes an 11.7% decline in candy sales in mid-September of this year compared to gains that Halloween candy experienced the previous two years.
“Some of the decisions they’re making about Halloween candy, it’s not necessarily because, ‘I notice it’s more expensive than last year,” Chris Costagli, vice president and food thought leader at NielsenIQ, told the Associated Press. “It’s ‘I can’t afford it this year because I’ve paid so much for so many other things. I just don’t have the financial means to buy it this year.’”
With food and fuel prices rising across the country, people are spending more on necessities instead of seasonal items such as Halloween candy.
Another key factor in rising costs for candy is that cocoa prices have reached a record high of $10,710 per metric ton in January 2025. This is due to poor weather affecting crops in West Africa which supplies 70% of the world’s chocolate. Prices have been falling since but still remain relatively high. Inflation and production costs have also had a huge impact on prices for consumers.
Small bags of candy were the only size that actually saw sales growth through mid-October. As of September, candy and gum prices were up 44% over a five-year period according to government data. Candy prices have been climbing faster than the rate of inflation, meaning that candy has been getting more expensive than other novelties or necessities.
This Halloween season, Aldi is advertising a 135-piece variety pack of Mars Inc. chocolate bars priced at $19.87. That same price five years ago would’ve gotten consumers a 250-piece variety pack. Prices for smaller bags of candy are growing so high that the new price would have gotten consumers more pieces of candy in previous years.
Due to rising costs, many families are going to the grocery store more frequently and purchasing smaller orders to spread money throughout the month for food. People are not going to the grocery store once or twice a month anymore, it has instead shifted to more trips and coming out with less products. This means that Halloween candy will likely see a surge in sales come the weekend of Halloween if there is still money available for those families to purchase candy.
However, corporations and trade groups are still very optimistic for Halloween sales.
“We are just now entering the peak period for Halloween and consumer enthusiasm remains incredibly strong.” the National Confectioners Association wrote in a statement.
We will have to wait and see how sales go for the industry during peak weekend.
