Halloween candy costs 70% more than five years ago as cocoa runs short
Chocolate has risen faster than vegetables or beef, so parents are filling bowls with gummies, tattoos, and even ramen.
The Headlines · Israel’s First Election Since Oct. 7, and What Anthropic’s I.P.O. Means for the Whole EconomyThe scariest part of Halloween this year is not the costumes. It is the candy bill.
A bag of 100 pieces now costs more than 70% more than it did five years ago, by one estimate of retail prices. That jump is larger than the increases for everyday groceries like vegetables or beef, which, as any parent knows, are not acceptable substitutes for trick-or-treaters.
The chain starts in the fields. Chocolate is made from cacao, the beans harvested from cacao trees. A climate-driven shortage has rocked the cacao industry, meaning growers have less to sell. When supply falls that sharply, chocolate makers have to pay more for what remains, and they pass that cost to shoppers.
Because chocolate is in so many Halloween favorites, that one ingredient lifts the whole bowl. A shortage that hits cacao therefore hits Halloween harder than it hits the produce aisle or the meat counter.
Parents are adjusting to the new math. A market research executive says children now favor chewy, tangy, and sour candy, like Nerds gummy clusters, which can cost less than chocolate. A woman in Illinois told of handing out inexpensive instant noodles for trick-or-treat. Others are stretching their bowls with temporary tattoos and small trinkets.
The pressure is social as well as financial. A woman who recently moved to a new neighborhood in North Carolina said she had hoped to impress neighbors with large chocolate bars, but with prices where they are, that is not going to happen. This year, a full bowl matters more than a chocolate one.
Questions people ask
Why is cacao so vulnerable to climate problems?
Most of the world's cacao grows in a narrow band of hot, humid land in West Africa, especially Ghana and Ivory Coast. The trees are sensitive to heat, heavy rain, and long dry spells, and they are also vulnerable to plant diseases that spread faster in extreme weather.
Will Halloween candy get cheaper again?
Yes, if weather improves and harvests recover. Cocoa prices have been extremely volatile, with a major spike in 2024 followed by some pullback. Retail candy prices usually fall more slowly than raw cocoa prices because packaging, labor, and shipping stay expensive.
Are non-chocolate candies actually cheaper right now?
Often, yes. Gummies and hard candies are made mostly from sugar, corn syrup, and flavorings, which have not seen the same supply shock as cacao. That is one reason families looking to save are leaning toward chewy and sour options.